Jason N. Cole

Background

About Jason N. Cole

My general research interests include understanding the fundamental mechanisms of bacterial pathogenesis and the innate immune system, with a special focus on human streptococcal infections and vaccine development. By utilizing a molecular genetic approach, my research program aims to discover and understand how bacterial virulence factors contribute to adherence, invasion, molecular mimicry, and resistance to immunologic clearance to advance the health of animals, people and the environment. My current research focuses on GAS, a human bacterial pathogen placed within the ‘top 10’ infectious disease causes of human deaths worldwide. GAS causes a number of diseases, ranging from mild skin infections (e.g. pharyngitis or ‘strep sore throat’) to severe invasive infections such as toxic syndrome and necrotizing fasciitis (‘flesh-eating’ disease). I am interested in developing a safe and effective GAS vaccine, and understanding the mechanism by which GAS causes serious invasive disease. The information gained through these investigations may lead to the development of novel treatment strategies and therapeutic agents to combat this globally important pathogen.