Syphilis Diagnostics and Vaccine Preventable Bacterial Diseases

The objectives of the Syphilis Diagnostics and Vaccine Preventable Bacterial Diseases Section include laboratory surveillance, reference diagnostic service, and research on pathogenic Neisseria, syphilis, and vaccine preventable bacterial diseases (Bordetella pertussis and Haemophilus influenzae). This laboratory is also involved in research and development for production of diagnostic reagents for bioterrorism agents.

Besides the routine diagnostic and surveillance activities related to the above pathogens, this laboratory carries out research and development work:

1. To improve the laboratory diagnosis/identification of infectious pathogens.
2. To understand the evolving nature of pathogens
3. To improve strain characterization for molecular epidemiology purposes.
4. To study potential virulence mechanisms.