Two New Publications Focus on Dengue Virus and Antifungal Drug Discoveries.

Posted in News Story  |  Tagged Department Publications

Two faculty members in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology have made significant contributions in the areas of the Dengue Virus and Antifungal Drug Discoveries.  

Dr. Radhakrishnan Padmanabhan’s book, ”Dengue: Methods and Protocols”  offers detailed descriptions of techniques compiled from the leading laboratories working on dengue research. Each year, Dengue virus (DENV1-4) infects millions of people  in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of the virus. Currently, there is no preventive vaccine or antiviral drugs for treatment.  

Dr. Richard Calderone’s journal article, “Antifungal drug discovery: the process and outcomes” was recently published in the Future Microbiology Journal and seeks to highlight the impending crisis of invasive fungal infections. Today, the death toll caused by drug resistant fungal infections  globally equals that caused by drug-resistant tuberculosis and exceeds deaths due to malaria.  In spite of this, no new antifungal therapeutic interventions have occurred during the past 2 decades.  This review summarizes the the public health issues of these diseases, advocacy and policy to promote new discovery, and basic research currently underway, including in the Calderone lab, to develop new antifungal drugs.