Avanzi Lab

As part of the Mycobacteria Research Laboratories, the Avanzi Lab specializes in the genomics epidemiology of leprosy. More specifically, it investigates the transmission and dissemination dynamics of Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis, the causative agents of leprosy in humans, along with the role of animal and environmental hosts in facilitating the global pathogen spread. Furthermore, her research encompasses the development and optimization of molecular diagnostic techniques for detecting these pathogens in clinical specimens and assessing their viability, which is crucial for evaluating treatment effectiveness and developing new regimens. Additionally, as a participant in the World Health Organization’s drug resistance surveillance network, her laboratory conducts comprehensive molecular analyses to determine drug susceptibility profiles and elucidate novel resistance mechanisms in M. leprae.

research project

Mechanism of action of Dapsone in Mycobacterium leprae

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research project

Monitoring Treatment Efficacy in Leprosy

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research project

Validation of the RLEP qPCR on the Biomeme instrument

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Publications

Mycobacterium leprae in Armadillo Tissues from Museum Collections, United States.
Romero-Alvarez D, Garzon-Chavez D, Jackson M, Avanzi C, Peterson AT.Emerg Infect Dis. 2023 Mar;29(3):622-626. doi: 10.3201/eid2903.221636.PMID: 36823763

Leprosy in an Adopted Woman Diagnosed by Molecular Tools: A Case Report from a Non-Endemic Area.
Beltrame A, Fargnoli MC, Avanzi C, Sollima L, Pomari E, Mori A, Longoni SS, Moro L, Orza P, Jackson M, Perandin F.Pathogens. 2023 Jan 20;12(2):165. doi: 10.3390/pathogens12020165.PMID: 36839437

Mycobacterium leprae Infection in a Wild Nine-Banded Armadillo, Nuevo León, Mexico.
Vera-Cabrera L, Ramos-Cavazos CJ, Youssef NA, Pearce CM, Molina-Torres CA, Avalos-Ramirez R, Gagneux S, Ocampo-Candiani J, Gonzalez-Juarrero M, Mayorga-Rodriguez JA, Mayorga-Garibaldi L, Spencer JS, Jackson M, Avanzi C.Emerg Infect Dis. 2022 Mar;28(3):747-749. doi:10.3201/eid2803.211295.PMID: 35202538

Leprosy in wild chimpanzees.
Hockings KJ, Mubemba B, Avanzi C, Pleh K, Düx A, Bersacola E, Bessa J, Ramon M, Metzger S, Patrono LV, Jaffe JE, Benjak A, Bonneaud C, Busso P, Couacy-Hymann E, Gado M, Gagneux S, Johnson RC, Kodio M, Lynton-Jenkins J, Morozova I, Mätz-Rensing K, Regalla A, Said AR, Schuenemann VJ, Sow SO, Spencer JS, Ulrich M, Zoubi H, Cole ST, Wittig RM, Calvignac-Spencer S, Leendertz FH.Nature. 2021 Oct;598(7882):652-656. doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-03968-4. Epub 2021 Oct 13.PMID: 34646009

Molecular epidemiology of leprosy: An update.
Avanzi C, Singh P, Truman RW, Suffys PN.Infect Genet Evol. 2020 Dec;86:104581. doi: 10.1016/j.meegid.2020.104581. Epub 2020 Oct 4.PMID: 33022427

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People

Charlotte Avanzi, Pharm.D., Ph.D.

Lab Principal Investigator [PI]
Assistant Professor

Bettina Broeckling, Ph.D.

Research Scientist II

Adele Crane, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Fellow

John Anderson, M.S.

Research Associate II

Janine Crick

Laboratory Support II

Danara Flores

Graduate Research Assistant

Ria Janapti

Student Researcher

Joseph Himelspach Headshot
Joseph Himelspach

Student Researcher

Field diagnosis campaign in Sengal, 2023.

(left to right) Lauren, Charolotte and Ria at the kick-off meeting of MURALS 2022.

Lauren and Ria at the 2024 CVMBS Research Day

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contact information

Lab: Microbiology Building room B330

Offices: Microbiology Building rooms B308 & B320

(970) 491-2669