Pathology and Pathophysiology

Pathology: Dr Gareth Turner ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. )

Our group provides pathology input to a number of collaborations at MORU and more widely within the Oxford Tropical Network, including projects in malaria, rickettsial disease, pneumonia, placental malaria and dengue.

Malaria Pathology and Pathophysiology

Working in the Department of Tropical Pathology, Mahidol University (http://www.tm.mahidol.ac.th/eng/tmpt/tmpt_index.htm), with our colleagues Prof Emsri Pongponrat, Dr Urai Chaisri and Dr Panote Prapansilp, we use pathology techniques to research the pathophysiology of malaria, including histopathology, immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. To complement these approaches we are working with Dr Kesinee Chovitanich at MORU to develop in vitro endothelial cell models of brain and lung endothelial lines. In collaboration with the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, Oxford, we are developing translational molecular pathology approaches to investigate the pathogenesis of cerebral malaria and other severe forms of malarial disease including lung injury and acute renal failure.

The MEMA Autopsy Study (Moçambique Estúdio Malária Autópsia) in Beira

With funding from the Thrasher Foundation, USA (http://www.thrasherresearch.org/) we are conductiong an autopsy based study of the Pathology of Fatal P.falciparum malaria with our collaborator in Hospital Central de Beira, Mozambique, Dr Josefo Ferro and the MORU malaria group including Prof Arjen Dondrop and Dr Ilse Hendriksen. Tissues from these patients are being used to study the pathological features of fatal malaria in this population, and for a project studying molecular pathological investigation of gene expression in the brain and kidney in malaria.

Placental Malaria

In collaboration with Prof Francois Nosten, Dr Rose McGready and Dr Marcus Rijken at the Shoklo Malaria Research Unit (http://www.shoklo-unit.com/About/Intro.htm) and Dr Atis Muhlenbachs (SBRI and University of Washington, Seattle) we are examining the pathology of placental malaria in P.falciparum and P.vivax infection.

Scrub Typhus

We are conducting studies of the immunonopathogenesis of Orientia tsutsugamushi in scrub typhus, cloning and characterising the p56 type specific antigen to examine its role in eliciting humoral and cell mediated immune responses, in collaboration with the Oxford Protein Production Facility (http://www.oppf.ox.ac.uk/OPPF/). In collaboration with AFRIMS, Dr Allen Richards (Navy Medical Research Centre, Silver Spring, USA)and Dr Daniel Paris, we are investigating the immunopathogenesis of Scrub Typhus (Postdoctoral researcher Dr Piyanate)

Pneumonia – the PERCH Post mortem Lung Needle Biopsy Study

The PERCH study (Pneumonia Etiology Research for Child Health) is a multi-centre case control study of the etiology of childhood pneumonia, funded by the Gates Foundation and coordinated through Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (http://www.jhsph.edu/ivac/AboutPERCH.html), directed by Prof Orin Levine. Working with multiple collaborators in Africa, Bangladesh and Thailand (at the CDC/MOPH Emerging Infectious Diseases Programme) we are coordinating a post mortem needle biopsy study of lung pathology in fatal paediatric pneumonia.

Dengue Fever and Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever

With Dr Prida Malasit (Department of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital) we are examining the pathology of Dengue Virus infection

Group Members:

Dr Gareth Turner Head of Pathology, MORU and Honorary Consultant, Tropical Pathology. Honorary Senior Lecturer NDCLS, Oxford University

Assoc Prof Emsri Pongponrat Head of Department, Tropical Pathology

Asst Prof Urai Chaisri Deputy Head of Department, Tropical Pathology

Dr Panote Prapansilp Assistant Lecturer, Tropical Pathology and DPhil Student – Malaria Pathology, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford

Dr Piyanate Sunyakumthorn (Post doc – Rickettsial immunopathogenesis)

Kemajittra Jenjaroen (MSc Student – Rickettsia)

Dr Sumate Ampawong (Post doc – Malaria Lung Pathology)

Sethawud Chaikigosiyakul (MSc Student – Placental Malaria)

Previous Group Members:

Dr Isabelle Medana

Dr Heidi Brown

Dr Navakanit Sachanonta

Dr Sudarat Nguansangiam

Sources of Funding:

The Wellcome Trust	The Thrasher Research Fund, USA
John Fell Foundation, Oxford University	The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
The Thailand Research Fund	The Pathological Society of Great Britain