Research in the Petraitiene Lab
Research Interests
- Infectious diseases
- Translational research
- New molecular diagnostic markers
- Development and application of new antimicrobial drugs
Rabbit Models of Infectious Disease
Dr. Petraitiene and her colleagues have developed and refined over 25 rabbit models of fungal and bacterial infections that closely replicate the microbiological, histological, immunological, and radiological features of human disease. These models—encompassing invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, fusariosis, mucormycosis, disseminated candidiasis, esophageal candidiasis, and catheter-related infections—serve as predictive platforms that bridge laboratory findings with clinical outcomes. In particular, the developed pulmonary aspergillosis and mucormycosis models have been instrumental in correlating molecular, microbiological, and radiological (CT imaging-based) findings to establish diagnostic and therapeutic benchmarks that have translated directly to clinical practice.
Contributions to Antifungal Development
Our laboratory has systematically investigated all major antifungal classes—polyenes, lipid formulations, triazoles, and echinocandins—across a wide range of invasive infections. This work has contributed to the clinical development and approval of key agents, including:
- Echinocandins: anidulafungin, caspofungin, micafungin
- Triazoles: ravuconazole, isavuconazole, posaconazole, voriconazole, itraconazole
- Polyenes: liposomal amphotericin B (Ambisome)
- Novel agents: fosmanogepix, ibrexafungerp
Expansion into Antibacterial Research
Over the past decade, Dr. Petraitiene has expanded her research to include antibacterial drug development against multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs). Under the FDA Broad Agency Announcement FDABAA-20-00123N, our group established the first rabbit models of ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia caused by carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii.
Dr. Petraitiene has led PK/PD studies of ceftolozane/tazobactam, ceftazidime-avibactam, conducted tissue distribution analyses for eravacycline and minocycline, and explored CNS penetration of antimicrobials, informing the rational design of dosing regimens for difficult-to-treat infections.
Biomarkers of Antifungal Response
A major focus of Dr. Petraitiene’s research has been the identification and validation of biomarkers to monitor antifungal treatment response in experimental and clinical settings. She has investigated the correlation between serum galactomannan and (1→3)-β-D-glucans and therapeutic efficacy, defining their translational utility as surrogate markers.
Key findings include:
- Galactomannan as a surrogate marker of antifungal efficacy.
- Role of β-D-glucans in disseminated candidiasis and mucormycosis.
- β-D-glucans as the first reliable CSF biomarker for pediatric Candida meningoencephalitis.
This work established the translational framework for integrating biomarkers into the design and interpretation of antifungal therapeutic trials.
Collaborative Partnerships and Translational Impact
Dr. Petraitiene’s research has been advanced through long-standing collaborations with academic, industry, and regulatory partners, including Allergan, Amplyx Pharmaceuticals, Astellas Pharma, Basilea Pharmaceutica, Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Eli Lilly, Gilead Sciences, Leadiant Biosciences, The Medicines Company, Merck & Co., Novartis, Pfizer, Scynexis, Shionogi, Tetraphase Pharmaceuticals, Vicuron Pharmaceuticals, Viosera Therapeutics, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
These collaborations have enabled the progression of antifungal and antibacterial agents from discovery through IND-enabling studies and into clinical application, from bench to bedside.