Patricia Ferrieri, M.D.

Professor of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology
Professor of Pediatrics
612-624-1948
ferri002@umn.edu

Dr. Ferrieri is the Director of Clinical Microbiology Laboratory and Outreach Reference Laboratory Program.  In addition, she co-directs the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Training Program and is the Course Director for the Pediatric Infectious Diseases elective for medical students.  Dr. Ferrieri participates in resident education by serving on the Pathology Residency Advisory Committee and co-coordinating the core microbiology/virology resident rotation. 

Educational Background

• Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, New York (1961), A.B.
• University of Pittsburgh (1965), M.D.
• University of Minnesota (1966), Internship (Pediatrics)
• University of Minnesota (1968), Residency (Pediatrics)
• University of Minnesota (1971), Fellowship (Pediatric Infectious Diseases)

Board Certification

Pediatrics

Professional Background

• Assistant Professor, University of Minnesota Medical School, Department of Pediatrics, 1971 - 1974
• Associate Professor, University of Minnesota Medical School, Department of Pediatrics, 1974 - 1979
• Professor, University of Minnesota Medical School, Department of Pediatrics, 1979
• Professor, University of Minnesota Medical School, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, 1982
• Director, University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview, Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, 1982
• Director, University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview, Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, 1993

Professional Honors

• Career Investigator Fellowship of American Heart Association, American Heart Association, 1968 - 1970
• Departmental Post-Doctoral Trainee , 1970 - 1971

Professional Memberships

• National Board of Medical Examiners, 1966
• American Board of Pediatrics, 1970
• American Association for the Advancement of Science
• American Society for Microbiology
• Northwestern Pediatric Society
• American Federation for Clinical Research
• Society for Pediatric Research, 1974
• Midwest Society for Pediatric Research, 1974
• Central Society for Clinical Research, 1976
• Lancefield Society, 1976
• Infectious Diseases Society of America, 1977
• American Association of Immunologists, 1978
• Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, 1981
• American Society for Investigative Pathology, 1982
• American Pediatric Society, 1983
• Academy of Clinical Laboratory Physicians and Scientists, 1983
• Minnesota Society of Clinical Pathologists, 1989

Research Activities

Dr. Ferrieri is the Principal Investigator of the Streptococcal Initiative (NIH/NIAID) and Co-Investigator/Co-Director of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Training Grant (NIH/NICHD).  Her research laboratory is the molecular reference laboratory for multi-center studies of the group B Streptococcus. Molecular antigenic and genomic characterization of group B streptococcal (GBS) strains collected from the various epidemiological studies is performed. This is a unique national and international reference center. In addition, basic research studies are focused on surface protein antigens of the GBS, one of which has led to development of a provisional patent for consideration of use of this antigen as a vaccine component against GBS. 

Other research collaborations include studies with the Minnesota Department of Health on the characterization of group B streptococci, submitted statewide for research under the Emerging Pathogens Program. Research activities within the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory include studies of new antibiotic agents that are under development and their efficacy against highly resistant bacterial pathogens; molecular DNA studies of bacteria associated with hospital-acquired infections; studies of new bacteriologic and fungal media; and collaborations with members of the medical school and hospital staff on their research projects. 

Publications

Dr. Ferrieri has extensively published on a variety of topics, including immune responses to the R4 protein antigen of group B streptococci and its relationship to other R4 streptococci proteins, molecular diversity amongst trypsin resistant surface proteins of group B streptococci, the diagnosis of microsporidial keratitis by confocal microscopy and chromotrope stain, the cloning of the glutamine synthetase gene from group B streptococci, antimicrobial activity of the semisynthetic compound hexahydrocolupulone, and inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for serotyping of group B streptococci. 

She also serves on  the AHC Faculty Consultative Committee,  Medical School Faculty Advisory Council, University Senate, Pediatric Resident Selection Committee, Committee on Rheumatic Fever, Endocarditis, and Kawasaki Disease of the American Heart Association, FDA Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee, Council on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young of the American Heart Association, American Pediatric Society, Pediatric Research Committee of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and International Board of Advisors for the Lancefield International Streptococcal Symposia. She is also an ad hoc reviewer for 6 scientific journals.

• Baddour, L.M., Bettmann, M.A., Bolger, A.F., Epstein, A.E., Ferrieri, P., Gerber, M.A., Gewitz, M.H., Jacobs, A.K., Levison, M.E., Newburger, J.W., Pallasch, T.J., Wilson, W.R., Baltimore, R.S., Falace, D.A., Shulman, S.T., Tani, L.Y., and Taubert, K.A.  Nonvalvular Cardiovascular Device-Related Infections (Editorial Commentary).  Clin. Infect. Dis. 38:1128-1130, 2004.
• Ferrieri, P.:  Diagnosis of non-suppurative complications of group A streptococcal pharyngitis.  In Optimal Management of Streptococcal Pharyngitis:  Epidemiology, Diagnosis, Treatment and Public Health Considerations.  Pechere, J.C., Kaplan, E.L., eds.  Karger, Geneva, 2004.
• Ferrieri, P., S.L. Hillier, M.A. Krohn, D. Moore, L.C. Paoletti, and A.E. Flores.  Characterization of vaginal and rectal colonization with multiple serotypes of group B streptococci using multiple colony picks.  Indian J. Med. Res. 119 (Suppl):208-212, 2004.
• Ferrieri, P., A.E. Flores, C.J. Baker, and S.L. Hillier.  Diversity of surface protein expression in group B streptococcal colonizing and invasive isolates.  Indian J. Med. Res 119 (Suppl):191-196, 2004.
• Smith, B., A.E. Flores, J. Dechaine, J. Krepela, A. Bergdall, and P. Ferrieri.  The group B streptococcal protein R4 gene, its presence in clinical reference strains, and analysis of R4 protein.  Indian J. Med. Res. 119 (Suppl):213-220, 2004.
• Lephart, P.R., Ferrieri, P., van Burik, J-A.H.:  Reservoir of Candida albicans in a vascular bypass graft demonstrates a stable karyotype over six months.  Med. Mycol. 42:255-260, 2004.
• Shet, A. and Ferrieri, P.:  Neonatal and maternal group B streptococcal infections:  A comprehensive review.  Indian J. Med. Res. 120:141-150, 2004.
• Newburger, J.W., Takahashi, M., Gerber, M.A., Gewitz, M.H., Tani, L.Y., Burns, J.C., Shulman, S.T., Bolger, A.F., Ferrieri, P., Baltimore, R.S., Wilson, W.R., Baddour, L.M., Levison, M.E., Pallasch, T.J., Falace, D.A., Taubert, K.A.:  Diagnosis, Treatment, and Long-Term Management of Kawasaki Disease:  A Statement for Health Professionals From the Committee on Rheumatic Fever, Endocarditis and Kawasaki Disease, Council on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young, American Heart Association.  Circulation 110:2747-2771, 2004 (co-published in Pediatrics).
• Newburger, J.W., Takahashi, M., Gerber, M.A., Gewitz, M.H., Tani, L.Y., Burns, J.C., Shulman, S.T., Bolger, A.F., Ferrieri, P., Baltimore, R.S., Wilson, W.R., Baddour, L.M., Levison, M.E., Pallasch, T.J., Falace, D.A., Taubert, K.A.:  Diagnosis, Treatment, and Long-Term Management of Kawasaki Disease:  A Statement for Health Professionals From the Committee on Rheumatic Fever, Endocarditis and Kawasaki Disease, Council on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young, American Heart Association.  Pediatrics 114:1708-1733, 2004 (co-published in Circulation).
• Mesa, H., Pambuccian, S., Ferrieri, P., Brunning, R.:  A case of systemic histoplasmosis diagnosed in a peripheral blood smear.  Br. J. Haematol. 127:241, 2004.
• Amundson, N.R., Flores, A.E., Hillier, S.L., Baker, C.J., Ferrieri, P.:  DNA Macrorestriction Analysis of Nontypeable Group B Streptococcal Isolates:  Clonal Evolution of Nontypeable and Type V Isolates.  J. Clin. Microbiol 43:572-576, 2005.
• Baddour, L.M., Wilson, W.R., Bayer, A.S., Fowler Jr., V.G., Bolger, A.F., Levison, M.E., Ferrieri, P., Gerber, M.A., Tani, L.Y., Gewitz, M.H., Tong, D.C., Steckelberg, J.M., Baltimore, R.S., Shulman, S.T., Burns, J., Falace, D.A., Newburger, J.W., Pallasch, T.J., Takahashi, M., Taubert, K.A.:  Infective Endocarditis:  Diagnosis, Antimicrobial Therapy and Management of Complications.  Executive Summary. Circulation (In Press).
• Baddour, L.M., Wilson, W.R., Bayer, A.S., Fowler Jr., V.G., Bolger, A.F., Levison, M.E., Ferrieri, P., Gerber, M.A., Tani, L.Y., Gewitz, M.H., Tong, D.C., Steckelberg, J.M., Baltimore, R.S., Shulman, S.T., Burns, J., Falace, D.A., Newburger, J.W., Pallasch, T.J., Takahashi, M., Taubert, K.A.:  Infective Endocarditis:  Diagnosis, Antimicrobial Therapy and Management of Complications.  American Heart Association web site http://www.americanheart.org (Release pending).
• Baker, C.J., Carey, V.J., Rench, M.A., Edwards, M.S., Hillier, S.L., Ferrieri, P., Kasper, D.L., and Platt, R.:  Quantity of maternal antibody at delivery that protects neonates from group B streptococcal disease.  Submitted for publication.
• Ramaswamy SV, Ferrieri P, Madoff LC, Flores AE, Kumar N, Tettelin H, and Paoletti L.  Immunologic and Genetic Analysis of Atypical Serotype V Group B Streptococcus.  Submitted for publication.
• Uhl JR, Vetter EA, Boldt KL, Johnston BW, Ramin KD, Adams MJ, Ferrieri P, Reischl U, and Cockerill III, FR.  Detection of Group B Streptococcus from Vaginal/Rectal Swabs Using the Roche LightCycler Strep B Assay.  Submitted for publication.

Manuscripts in preparation

• Smith, B.L., Dechaine, J.M., Heineman, B.J., and Ferrieri, P.: A group B streptococcal complement C3-binding protein, GbcA: conservation, immunogenicity, and surface localization as a potential GBS adhesin.  In preparation..
• Flores, A.E., Erdogan, S., Chhatwal, G.S., Baker, C.J., Hillier, S., and Ferrieri, P.:  The R5 surface protein of group B streptococci: Expression among isolates of various polysaccharide serotypes. In preparation.

Abstracts

• Ramaswamy, S.V., P. Ferrieri, L.C. Madoff, A.E. Flores, L.C. Paoletti.  Immunologic and genetic analysis of atypical serotype V group B Streptococcus.  44^th Annual ICAAC Meeting, Washington DC, October 30-November 2, 2004; Abstract D-1733, p. 160.
• Canavan, T., M. Krohn, S. Hillier, and P. Ferrieri.  Sexually associated group B streptococcal serotype colonization.  Accepted for presentation at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine 25^th Annual Scientific Meeting.  Reno, Nevada, February 7-12, 2005.
• Ferrieri P.  Comparison of culture based versus immunologic and genetic approaches to detection of group B streptococcal vaginal/rectal carriage.  International Symposium on Streptococcal and Pneumococcal Infections.  London, England, April 11-12, 2005.  Presented.
• Ferrieri P, Flores AE, Baker CJ, Hillier SL.  Molecular epidemiologic studies of serotype V group B streptococcal isolates from a ten year period.  International Symposium on Streptococcal and Pneumococcal Infections.  London, England, April 11-12, 2005.  Presented.