Harrison Microbial Genomics Epidemiology Laboratory (MiGEL)
Dr. Lee Harrison has focused his research career on use of molecular epidemiologic and microbial genomic tools to answer fundamental questions about the emergence and transmission of bacterial pathogens.
Over the past 15 years, the laboratory has concentrated on studying various aspects of drug-resistant and vaccine preventable bacterial infections, including Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, Clostridium difficile, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, with a focus on genomic epidemiology and developing novel approaches for detecting hospital acquired infections.
Contributions to Science
- Translational epidemiologic studies of drug-resistant and vaccine-preventable invasive bacterial diseases. Much of the research has focused on epidemiologic methods to define the disease burden of and risk factors for invasive bacterial diseases. This work has been highly translational because it has contributed to the development and refinement of immunization and other policies.
- Microbial genomics to dissect emergence and transmission of bacterial disease. Dr. Harrison’s lab develops and uses microbial genomic tools to understand pathogen transmission and microbial characteristics that are relevant to vaccine prevention.
- His laboratory published the first multilocus variable number tandem repeat (MLVA) assay for Escherichia coli 0157:H7, the first MLVA assay for Clostridium difficile, and also used whole genome sequencing to understanding the emergence of important meningococcal clones, most recently the 2000 “Hajj clone”, which is currently a major cause of meningococcal disease in the meningitis belt of Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Global research in invasive bacterial diseases. Demonstrating the large benefit of incorporating rea l-time PCR into routine public health surveillance for bacterial meningitis in Sao Paulo. We have also conducted detailed molecular epidemiologic characterizations of Brazilian invasive meningococcal isolates, with a focus on vaccine antigens.
- Global research in HIV epidemiology.
Contact
Lee H. Harrison, MD
lharriso@edc.pitt.edu
Laboratory:
10th Floor, E1000-4A
Starzl Biomedical Science Tower (BST)
200 Lothrop Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15261
Harrison Laboratory Members
Shurmin Chaudhary
Email: shc159@pitt.edu
Hunter Coyle
Starzl BST, 10th Floor
E1000-4A
Email: coyle.hunter@pitt.edu
Deena Ereifej, BS, HPS
Starzl BST, 10th Floor
E1000-4A
Email: dre21@pitt.edu
Marissa P. Griffith
Starzl BST, 10th Floor
E1000-4A
Email: mpp19@pitt.edu
Praveen Kumar, PhD
Crabtree Hall, A663
Email: PRK52@pitt.edu
Rose Patrick
Email: rcp41@pitt.edu
Lora Pless, PhD
Starzl BST, E1053
Email: lora.pless@pitt.edu
Nathan Raabe, MPH
Starzl BST, 10th Floor
E1000-4A
Email: njr59@pitt.edu
Vatsala Rangachar Srinivasa
Starzl BST, 10th Floor
E1000-4A
Email: VAR35@pitt.edu
Alexander Sundermann, DrPH
Scaife Hall, 827
Email: sundermannaj@upmc.edu
Kady Waggle
Starzl BST, 10th Floor
E1000-4A
Email: KDW41@pitt.edu
Contact Us
Division of Infectious Diseases
Academic Administrative Office
818 Scaife Hall
3550 Terrace Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15261
Academic Office: 412-383-9062
For Patients: 412-647-7228
Center for Care of Infectious Diseases
Falk Medical Building
3601 Fifth Avenue, 7th Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Patient Appointments: 412-647-7228
Main CCID Fax: 412-647-7951