Sixto Manuel Leal Jr, MD, PhD
Director of Clinical Microbiology
University of Alabama at Birmingham
About my role in the ARLG
I received an ARLG Early Stage Investigator Seed Grant to develop a novel diagnostic test for C. difficile. As an ARLG junior faculty member, I have been able to connect and collaborate with new colleagues in and outside of my institution, which has been essential for the success of my current project and will continue to be beneficial in the future. ARLG support also enabled the recruitment of expert clinical research nurses to assist with sample collection as well as the lab staff and reagents needed to execute this research.
About my research
Clostridiodes (formerly Clostridium) difficile is a leading cause of hospital-acquired infections with severity ranging from mild diarrhea to fulminant colitis and death. Current laboratory diagnostic tests lack sufficient sensitivity or specificity to accurately distinguish between active infection and colonization with metabolically inactive spores, leading to either underdiagnoses or inappropriate treatment of colonized individuals.
With support from the ARLG, my team has developed and validated a novel multiplex RT-PCR assay that incorporates four distinct C. difficile-specific targets and an intrinsic control that detects toxin gene expression with 2000-fold greater sensitivity than current methods.
Why is this research important?
C. difficile infection is a major consequence of inappropriate antibiotic utilization. The development of more accurate diagnostics with improved sensitivity and specificity for active infection reduces false positive test results and unnecessary treatment of colonized individuals mitigating further development of antimicrobial resistance, particularly Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE).
Impact of the ARLG mentoring and funding on my career
The ARLG Early Stage Investigator Seed Grant supports the success of individuals seeking to execute translational research projects. It allows investigators to tap into global expertise and find the right contacts to move projects forward. I highly recommended that junior trainees with solid research ideas and motivation actively engage the ARLG to help kick start their careers in antimicrobial resistance research.
As a result of the guidance from ARLG and my project mentor, I will be able to drive similar translational research studies successfully in the future. I look forward to conducting research focused on optimizing and implementing infectious disease diagnostics that improve patient outcomes and help curtail further development of antimicrobial resistance.