Research Interests
Research Summary
Heat shock protein 60 kDa (hsp60) gene sequences in infectious disease diagnosis, microbial identification, phylogeny and pathogenesis: Two key observations from my laboratory led to the development of several patented diagnostic technologies: a) hsp60 genes from different organisms have both highly conserved as well as species-specific sequences; and b) universal hsp60 degenerate primers can amplify a 600-bp gene product from any microorganism of interest. These discoveries enabled us to develop novel approaches for the genotypic detection and accurate identification of fastidious and nonculturable pathogens, phylogenetic analysis of emerging pathogens, and the investigation of recombinant hsp60 peptides in the serodiagnosis and immunopathogenesis of infectious diseases.
Molecular pathogenesis and clinical spectrum of staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome (TSS): These studies include the clinical spectrum and epidemiology of TSS; pathogenesis and animal models of TSS: clonality and genotyping of S. aureus- structure/function analysis and genetic regulation of TSS-associated staphylococcal toxins- mechanisms and signaling pathways of microbial superantigens. These studies have led to invitations as a key-note speaker and session chairman for several International Symposia on Toxic Shock Syndrome (1987 and 1997), Gordon Research Conference on Staphylococcal Diseases (1993), the International Congress of Chemotherapy Symposium on Staphylococcal Virulence (1995) and the Canadian Association of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Symposium on Staphylococcal Virulence (1996), and as a member of the site-visit team to review the US Army Medical Research Program on Toxins (2002).
Research Highlights
Personal
Education
University of Manitoba, MD,,
Affiliations
Recent Publications
•Chow AW: Complications, diagnosis, and treatment of odontogenic infections -II. In: UpToDate, vol. 16, Rose BD (ed), UpToDate, Inc., Wellesley, MA. Aug 2008 (evidence-based, peer-reviewed, electronic resource for physicians).
•Chow AW: Epidemiology, pathogenesis and clinical manifestations of odontogenic infections -I. In: UpToDate, vol. 16, Rose BD (ed), UpToDate, Inc., Wellesley, MA. Aug 2008 (evidence-based, peer-reviewed, electronic resource for physicians),
•Kalyan S, Chow AW. Staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 induces the translocation and secretion of high mobility group-1 protein from both activated T cells and monocytes. Mediators Inflamm 2008: 512196. 2008.
•Thambirajah AA, Sleigh K, Stiver HG, Chow AW: Heat shock protein responses to standardized exercise in chronic fatigue syndrome patients and matched healthy controls. Clin Invest Med 31:E319-E327. 2008.
•*Kalyan S, Chow AW. Linking innate and adaptive immunity: human Vgamma9Vdelta2 T cells enhance CD40 expression and HMGB-1 secretion. Mediators.Inflamm. 2009: 819408, 2009.
•Chow AW. Anaerobic infections. In: ACP Medicine, Nabel EG (ed), American College of Physicians, Philadelphia, Oct 2009 (http://www.acpmedicine.com/acpmedicine).
•Reynolds SC, Chow AW. Severe soft tissue infections of the head and neck: a primer for critical care physicians. Lung 187:271-279. 2009.
•Chow AW, Evans GA, Nathens AB, Ball CG, Hansen G, Harding GKM, Kirkpatrick AW, Weiss K, Zhanel GG. Canadian practice guidelines for surgical intra-abdominal infections. Can J Infect Dis Med Microbiol 21:11-37, 2010.
•Solomkin JS, Mazuski JE, Bradley JS, Rodvold KA, Goldstein EJ, Baron EJ, O’Neill PJ, Chow AW, Dellinger EP, Eachempati SR, Gorbach S, Hilfiker M, May AK, Nathens AB, Sawyer RG, Bartlett JG. Diagnosis and management of complicated intra-abdominal infection in adults and children: guidelines by the Surgical Infection Society and the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Clin Infect Dis 50:133-164, 2010.