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

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

Keshavjee, S, Amanullah, F, Cattamanchi, A, Chaisson, R, Dobos, KM, Fox, GJ, Gendelman, HE, Gordon, R, Hesseling, A, Hoi, LV, Kampmann, B, Kana, B, Khuller, G, Lewinsohn, DM, Lewinsohn, DA, Lin, PL, Lu, LL, Maartens, G, Owen, A, Protopopova, M, Rengarajan, J, Rubin, E, Salgame, P, Schurr, E, Seddon, JA, Swindells, S, Tobin, DM, Udwadia, Z, Walzl, G, Srinivasan, S, Rustomjee, R, and Nahid, P. "Moving Toward Tuberculosis Elimination: Critical Issues for Research in Diagnostics and Therapeutics for Tuberculosis Infection." American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (October 18, 2018).

PMID
30335466
Full Text

Murdoch, C, Espenschied, S, Matty, M, Mueller, O, Tobin, D, and Rawls, J. "Intestinal Serum Amyloid A suppresses systemic neutrophil activation and bactericidal activity in response to microbiota colonization." (October 4, 2018).

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

Walton, EM, Cronan, MR, Cambier, CJ, Rossi, A, Marass, M, Foglia, MD, Brewer, WJ, Poss, KD, Stainier, DYR, Bertozzi, CR, and Tobin, DM. "Cyclopropane Modification of Trehalose Dimycolate Drives Granuloma Angiogenesis and Mycobacterial Growth through Vegf Signaling." Cell Host & Microbe 24, no. 4 (October 2018): 514-525.e6.

PMID
30308157
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 2018).

PMID
29891599
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

Smilnak, GJ, Charalambous, LT, Cutshaw, D, Premji, AM, Giamberardino, CD, Ballard, CG, Bartuska, AP, Ejikeme, TU, Sheng, H, Verbick, LZ, Hedstrom, BA, Pagadala, PC, McCabe, AR, Perfect, JR, and Lad, SP. "Novel Treatment of Cryptococcal Meningitis via Neurapheresis Therapy." The Journal of Infectious Diseases 218, no. 7 (August 2018): 1147-1154.

PMID
29788431
Full Text

Hussaini, SMQ, Madut, D, Tong, BC, Pavlisko, EN, Schell, WA, Perfect, JR, and Thielman, NM. "Pulmonary blastomycosis presenting as primary lung cancer." Bmc Infectious Diseases 18, no. 1 (July 18, 2018): 336-null.

PMID
30021526
Full Text

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