Nancy Gail Henshaw

RESEARCH ABSTRACT

Morphology and pathogenesis of Pneumocystis carinii, rapid viral diagnosis, particularly in the immunocompromised host.

Most of my research efforts are of an applied nature which involves adapting new methods of rapid viral diagnosis and testing those newer approaches against standard virological procedures. Validated new tests are incorporated into the standard work-up of appropriate virological specimens. Ultimately the expanded offerings result in a chargeable test for the laboratory. For example as monoclonal antibodies have become available for common respiratory viruses causing lower respiratory tract disease, we have expanded our Respiratory Viral Battery FA and perform that routinely on appropriate specimens as opposed to only performing a RSV FA. We also now charge for Toluidine Blue O staining for Pneumocystis carinii, which I modified and standardized for our lab.

I am also doing an ongoing epidemiological study of adenovirus subtypes in cases of disseminated infection in SCIDs patients. Some of the typing was done by Molly Rivadeneira, M.D. when she rotated through our laboratory. We now have 12 patients in this study.

Also I am studying the morphology and staining characteristics of Pneumocystis carinii when exposed to Calcofluor, a fluorescent brightener that stains cellulose and chitin. In addition to examining laboratory strains, isolates of P. carinii from DUMC patient material is currently being studied. We now have 14 patient isolates in this study.