Infectious Diseases

John Robert Perfect, MD

Professor of Medicine
James B. Duke Professor of Medicine
Chief, Division of Infectious Diseases
Professor in Molecular Genetics and Microbiology
Campus mail Duke Box 102359, Durham, NC 27710
Phone (919) 684-4016
Email address perfe001@mc.duke.edu

Research in my laboratory focuses around several aspects of medical mycology. We are investigating antifungal agents (new and old) in animal models of candida and cryptococcal infections. We have examined clinical correlation of in vitro antifungal susceptibility testing and with in vivo outcome. Our basic science project examines the molecular pathogenesis of cryptococcal infections. We have developed a molecular foundation for C. neoformans, including transformation systems, gene disruptions, differential gene expression screens, and cloning pathogenesis genes. The goal of this work is to use C. neoformans as a model yeast system to identify molecular targets for antifungal drug development. There are a series of clinical trials in fungal infections which are being coordinated through this laboratory and my work also includes a series of antibiotic trials in various aspects of infections. Finally, we have now been awarded a NIH sponsored Mycology Unit for 5 years with 6 senior investigators which is focused on C. neoformans as a pathogenic model system, but will include multiple areas of medical mycology from diagnosis to treatment.

Education and Training

  • Fellow, Infectious Diseases, Duke University School of Medicine, 1977 - 1980
  • Resident, University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, 1975 - 1977
  • Intern, Riverside Methodist Hospital, 1974 - 1975
  • M.D., University of Toledo, 1974

Grants

Publications

Sundermann, AJ, Clancy, CJ, Pasculle, AW, Liu, G, Cumbie, RB, Driscoll, E, Ayres, A, Donahue, L, Pergam, SA, Abbo, L, Andes, DR, Chandrasekar, P, Galdys, AL, Hanson, KE, Marr, KA, Mayer, J, Mehta, S, Morris, MI, Perfect, J, Revankar, SG, Smith, B, Swaminathan, S, Thompson, GR, Varghese, M, Vazquez, J, Whimbey, E, Wingard, JR, and Nguyen, MH. "How Clean Is the Linen at My Hospital? The Mucorales on Unclean Linen Discovery Study of Large United States Transplant and Cancer Centers." Clinical Infectious Diseases : an Official Publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America 68, no. 5 (February 2019): 850-853.

PMID
30299481
Full Text

Le, T, Ly, VT, Thu, NTM, Nguyen, A, Thanh, NT, Chau, NVV, Thwaites, G, Perfect, J, Kolamunnage-Dona, R, and Hope, W. "Population Pharmacodynamics of Amphotericin B Deoxycholate for Disseminated Infection Caused by Talaromyces marneffei." Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 63, no. 2 (February 2019).

PMID
30420478
Full Text

Mourad, A, Stiber, JA, Perfect, JR, and Johnson, MD. "Real-world implications of QT prolongation in patients receiving voriconazole and amiodarone." The Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy 74, no. 1 (January 2019): 228-233.

PMID
30295798
Full Text

Ponzio, V, Chen, Y, Rodrigues, AM, Tenor, JL, Toffaletti, DL, Medina-Pestana, JO, Colombo, AL, and Perfect, JR. "Genotypic diversity and clinical outcome of cryptococcosis in renal transplant recipients in Brazil." Emerging Microbes & Infections 8, no. 1 (January 2019): 119-129.

PMID
30866766
Full Text

Kluyts, H-L, le Manach, Y, Munlemvo, DM, Madzimbamuto, F, Basenero, A, Coulibaly, Y, Rakotoarison, S, Gobin, V, Samateh, AL, Chaibou, MS, Omigbodun, AO, Amanor-Boadu, SD, Tumukunde, J, Madiba, TE, Pearse, RM, Biccard, BM, and African Surgical Outcomes Study (ASOS) investigators, . "The ASOS Surgical Risk Calculator: development and validation of a tool for identifying African surgical patients at risk of severe postoperative complications." British Journal of Anaesthesia 121, no. 6 (December 2018): 1357-1363.

PMID
30442264
Full Text

Fernandes, KE, Brockway, A, Haverkamp, M, Cuomo, CA, van Ogtrop, F, Perfect, JR, and Carter, DA. "Phenotypic Variability Correlates with Clinical Outcome in Cryptococcus Isolates Obtained from Botswanan HIV/AIDS Patients." Mbio 9, no. 5 (October 23, 2018).

PMID
30352938
Full Text

Messina, JA, Wolfe, CR, Hemmersbach-Miller, M, Milano, C, Todd, JL, Reynolds, J, Alexander, BD, Schell, WA, Cuomo, CA, and Perfect, JR. "Genomic characterization of recurrent mold infections in thoracic transplant recipients." Transplant Infectious Disease : an Official Journal of the Transplantation Society 20, no. 5 (October 2018): e12935-null.

PMID
29851203
Full Text

Shaw, KJ, Schell, WA, Covel, J, Duboc, G, Giamberardino, C, Kapoor, M, Moloney, M, Soltow, QA, Tenor, JL, Toffaletti, DL, Trzoss, M, Webb, P, and Perfect, JR. "In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation of APX001A/APX001 and Other Gwt1 Inhibitors against Cryptococcus." Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 62, no. 8 (August 1, 2018). (Academic Article)

Full Text

Cornely, OA, Mullane, KM, Ostrosky-Zeichner, L, Maher, RM, Croos-Dabrera, R, Lu, Q, Lademacher, C, Perfect, JR, Oren, I, Schmitt-Hoffmann, A-H, Giladi, M, Marty, FM, and Rahav, G. "Isavuconazole for treatment of rare invasive fungal diseases." Mycoses 61, no. 8 (August 2018): 518-533.

PMID
29611246
Full Text

Ponzio, V, Camargo, LF, Medina-Pestana, J, Perfect, JR, and Colombo, AL. "Outcomes of cryptococcosis in renal transplant recipients in a less-resourced health care system." Transplant Infectious Disease : an Official Journal of the Transplantation Society 20, no. 4 (August 2018): e12910-null.

PMID
29677399
Full Text

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