Arthur Donohue-Rolfe
Associate Professor
Interim Department Chair
Department of Biomedical Sciences
Infectious Diseases
Phone: 508-839-7919
Fax: 508-839-8787
Email: arthur.donohue-rolfe@tufts.edu
Dept. URL: http://www.tufts.edu/vet/biomed/infectious_diseases.htm
Education
PhD - Tufts University - 1979
BS - Haverford College - 1971
General Research Interest
My general research interest is the pathogenesis of enteric bacterial pathogens. My particular current interest is understanding the pathogenesis of enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC). EHEC produces two toxins, Shiga toxin 1 and Shiga toxin 2. My laboratory has studied the basic structure of these toxins and is continuing to study their role in disease and the effects of immune therapy directed against the toxins may have in ameliorating the disease.
Research Sponsor Interest
- Federally Funded Research
Selected Research Projects
Antibiotic treatment of EHEC infections. The treatment with antibiotics of human patients infected with EHEC is controversial. Studies have shown that treatment with some antibiotics may, in fact, worsen the clinical outcome. This study investigates the mechanisms by which certain antibiotics lead to a more severe illness. Selection of antibiotics which actually improve the clinical outcome will be a goal of this project.
Shiga toxin 2 and its association with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) HUS development is a systemic complication of EHEC infections and is strongly associated with EHEC strains that produce just Shiga toxin 2. HUS produces not only temporary kidney malfunctioning but can also lead to permanent kidney malfunctioning and even death. We are studying why Shiga toxin 2 is more associated with HUS development than Shiga toxin 1.
Research and Clinical Interests
The pathogenesis of bacteria
The pathogenic E. coli
The diagnosis of infectious diseases
Major Specialized Equipment Items Available
- ELISA plate reader
- Electroporator
Selected Publications
Mukherjee J, Chios K, Fishwild D, Hudson D, O\'Donnell S, Rich SM, Donohue-Rolfe A, Tzipori S. Human Stx2-specific monoclonal antibodies prevent systemic complications of Escherichia coli O157:H7 infection. Infect Immun. 2002 Feb;70(2):612-9.
Sheoran AS, Chapman-Bonofiglio S, Harvey BR, Mukherjee J, Georgiou G, Donohue-Rolfe A, Tzipori S. Human antibody against shiga toxin 2 administered to piglets after the onset of diarrhea due to Escherichia coli O157:H7 prevents fatal systemic complications. Infection & Immunity. 73(8):4607-13, 2005.
Donohue-Rolfe A, Kondova I, Oswald S, Hutto D, Tzipori S. 2000. Escherichia coli 0157:H7 strains that express Shiga toxin (Stx) 2 alone are more neurotropic for gnotobiotic piglets than are isotypes producing only Stx1 or both Stx1 and Stx2. J Infect Dis 81:1825-9.