My research interests are focused on the pathogenesis of obligate
intracellular bacteria, namely rickettsiae and ehrlichiae. My long term goal is
to study molecular pathogenesis of rickettsioses, specifically on microvascular
permeability and to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the increased
vascular permeability seen in rickettsioses. Specifically, I am interested in
adherens and tight junction proteins and the signal transduction pathways
involved in their regulation. Such increased vascular permeability leads to
cerebral and pulmonary edema, the two main causes of morbidity and mortality in
human rickettsioses. In addition, I also have three NIH-funded and one US-Army
funded projects in rickettsial diseases. The first project focuses on the
development of ultrasensitive diagnostic methods for rickettsial infections
during the acute phase of the disease in collaboration with the University of
Houston and Sandia National Laboratories in California; the second project
focuses on the development of small animal models to study rickettsioses
acquired via aerosols; and the third project is focused on the development of a
rodent model for scrub typhus (Orientia tsutsugamushi). The US Army-funded project is in collaboration with Physical Optics Corporation in
California, seeking to develop an antigen-capture test for diagnosis of
rickettsial infections in the acute phase using “dipstick” technology.
Search PubMed for Dr. Olano's publications.