Philana Ling Lin, MD, MSc

  • Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics

Education & Training

  • MSc, University of Pittsburgh
  • MD, Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine (NEOUCOM)
  • BS, Youngstown State University (NEOCOM combined program)

Research Interests

Tuberculosis (TB) accounts for 2 million deaths worldwide. After infection with M. tuberculosis (the etiology pathogen of tuberculosis), humans can either contain the infection or develop active disease.  Our lab is focused on the host protective immune responses to M. tuberculosis, a major factor in outcome of infection. We are also interested in the interaction between SIV-Mtb co-infection, especially in the context of the global epidemic. We are able to simulate both M. tuberculosis infection and SIV-Mtb co-infection in animal models and follow disease progression using in vivo PET-CT imaging. Our current studies involve identifying immunologic causes and bacterial sources of reactivation TB and relapse after treatment.

Publications

Coleman MT, Maiello P, Tomko J, Frye LJ, Fillmore D, Janssen C, Klein E, Lin PL. (2014) Early changes by 18F-PET CT predict outcome after M.tuberculosis infection in cynomolgus macaques. Infect Immun. 82: 2400-2404.

Lin PL*, Ford CB*, Coleman MT, Myers AJ, Gawande R, Ioerger T, Sacchettini J, Fortune SM, Flynn JL. Sterilization of granulomas is common in both active and latent tuberculosis despite extensive within-host variability in bacterial killing. (2014) Nature Medicine 20: 75-79. *Co-first authors.

Lin PL*, Dietrich J*, Tan E, Abalos RM, Burgos J, Bigbee C, Bigbee M, Milk L, Gideon HP, Rodgers M, Cochran C, Guinn K, Sherman DR, Klein E, Janssen C, Flynn JL, Andersen P.  (2012) H56/IC31 boosting protects cynomolgus macaques against active tuberculosis and reactivation of M. tuberculosis infection. J Clinical Investigation 122: 303. *Co-first authors.

Lin PL, Dartois, V, Johnston PJ, Janssen C, Via L, Goodwin MB, Klein E, Barry CE III, Flynn JL.  (2012) Metronidazole prevents reactivation of latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in macaques. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 109: 14188-14193.

Lin PL, Coleman, T, Carney, JPJ, Lopresti BJ, Tomko J, Fillmore D, Dartois V, Scanga C, Frye LJ, Janssen C, Klein E, Barry CE, Flynn JL. (2013) Radiologic responses in cynomolgous macaques for assessing tuberculosis chemotherapy regimens. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 57 (9): 4237-4244.