Scientists Aim To Protect Public From 'Silent Killers'

Researchers are combining basic science with hospital-based infection control efforts to develop electronic methods of monitoring diseases contracted by patients and applying those findings to more targeted infection prevention.

Bringing the two branches of science together is just one effort of the recently established Center for Microbial Interface Biology, a multidisciplinary program dedicated to understanding how infectious agents and human bodies interact – with the goal of preventing the most damaging interactions from occurring in the first place.

With 24-hour news cycles and Weblogs sharing news nonstop about the potential for humans to be harmed by antibiotic-resistant infections (including XDR tuberculosis) and even pet food additives, the center's more than 50 members are focused on keeping up with those dangers. They're conducting research that emphasizes protecting the public from a range of airborne and food-borne illnesses, biological weapons and even everyday viral infections.

"We host a number of cutting-edge programs related to protecting the public from the silent killers that cause infection," said Dr. Larry Schlesinger, director of the division of infectious diseases at Ohio State's Medical Center and director of the new center. "There are research programs in tuberculosis, typhoid fever, viral infections, a variety of upper and lower airway infections, parasitic infection, staph and strep infections, and many others. We're performing science that is leading the way to new diagnostic tests, new therapies and new vaccines."

The hospital-based infection control effort is just one example of how the center's existence will foster partnerships between basic science researchers and clinical epidemiology, said Dr. Kurt Stevenson, associate medical director of clinical epidemiology at Ohio State's Medical Center. Stevenson will speak on the Ohio State campus Saturday (6/15) about a current effort to use electronic health data to enhance hospital infection surveillance systems, and to describe how bench science about infectious agents can contribute to clinical settings.

"One of our efforts is to translate basic science research on infectious agents into direct applications in the clinical setting," Stevenson said.

His presentation will be part of the center's first research retreat, featuring a number of presentations and posters demonstrating the range of expertise at the center. Faculty and research scientists will present on issues ranging from susceptibility to inhalation anthrax to gene therapy for cystic fibrosis.

Center researchers currently emphasize respiratory infections; highly adapted human microorganisms that exploit their hosts to aid in their reproduction; and specific types of chronic inflammation. These areas connect closely to the clinical mission of the university's medical center – especially those patients whose immune systems are compromised – and relate to many of the targeted infectious disease agents of bioterrorism, Schlesinger said.

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