Paul M. Arnaboldi, M.S., Ph.D.
Areas of Expertise
- Tick-borne Diseases
Education
- B.A., Biology, College of Saint Rose
- M.S., Immunology, Albany Medical College
- Ph.D., Immunology, Albany Medical College
Research
Paul M. Arnaboldi, M.S., Ph.D., focuses on two primary areas of research in his laboratory.
Vaccine Development
Dr. Arnaboldi's lab is dedicated to developing vaccines that target mucosal surfaces, which are the entry points for approximately 90% of human pathogens, including those lining the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and genitourinary tracts. Most vaccines are administered via injection, offering limited protection at these crucial mucosal surfaces. To address this, the lab explores innovative methods to vaccinate directly at these sites, aiming to elicit optimal immunity precisely where pathogens invade. This approach has the potential to provide robust protective immunity against a broader range of pathogens.
Mucosal surfaces are exposed to numerous harmless antigens and beneficial bacteria, requiring the mucosal immune system to balance protective responses against pathogens while avoiding harmful inflammation. The lab's work involves understanding and overcoming these regulatory mechanisms to design vaccines that generate effective protective immunity without triggering excessive inflammation.
In collaboration with Dr. Alison McCormick of Touro University California, Dr. Arnaboldi's team is developing vaccines for Yersinia pestis (the plague-causing bacterium) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a multidrug-resistant pathogen associated with significant morbidity and mortality in healthcare settings. Their adaptable vaccine platform, based on the Tobacco Mosaic Virus, can be customized for a wide range of pathogens.
Improved Diagnostics for Tick-Transmitted Diseases
Dr. Arnaboldi's second research focus is advancing diagnostic tests for tick-borne diseases such as Lyme disease, Human Granulocytic Anaplasmosis (HGA), and babesiosis. With over 400,000 new cases of Lyme disease anticipated annually, and an increasing prevalence of tick-borne pathogens, improved diagnostics are essential. Current assays often lack sensitivity in early stages of disease or, in the case of babesiosis, are labor-intensive and inefficient for high-throughput testing.
The lab is employing diverse methodologies to create more accurate and efficient diagnostic tests for these diseases. Additionally, in collaboration with Dana Mordue, Ph.D., the lab investigates the immunopathology of babesiosis to inform the development of better diagnostics and therapeutic interventions.
Through these research efforts, Dr. Arnaboldi’s laboratory aims to advance both preventative and diagnostic measures to address critical public health challenges.
Publications
- Mordue DG, Katseff AS, Galeota AJ, et. al. "Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptors and C-C Chemokine Receptor-2 Positive Cells Play an Important Role in the Intraerythrocytic Death and Clearance of Babesia microti." Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland), 13(10), (2024) . doi: 10.3390/pathogens13100858
- Ghosh R, Joung HA, Goncharov A, et. al. "Rapid single-tier serodiagnosis of Lyme disease." Nature communications, 15(1), (2024) 7124. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-51067-5
- Dattwyler RJ, Arnaboldi PM. "Vaccination hesistancy in Lyme borreliosis." The Lancet. Infectious diseases, 24(9), (2024) 945-947. doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(24)00221-4
- Conti J, Gagliardi T, Arnaboldi PM, et. al. "Immune Mediators Important for a Protective Secondary Response to Babesia microti." Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland), 13(2), (2024) . doi: 10.3390/pathogens13020123
- Ghosh R, Joung HA, Goncharov A, et. al. "Single-tier point-of-care serodiagnosis of Lyme disease." bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology, (), (2023) . pii: 2023.06.14.544508. doi: 10.1101/2023.06.14.544508
- Arnaboldi PM, Katseff AS, Sambir M, et. al. "Linear Peptide Epitopes Derived from ErpP, p35, and FlaB in the Serodiagnosis of Lyme Disease." Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland), 11(8), (2022) . doi: 10.3390/pathogens11080944
- Arnaboldi PM, Narasimhan S. "Hygromycin A in the Lymelight." Cell host & microbe, 29(11), (2021) 1599-1601. doi: 10.1016/j.chom.2021.10.007
Professional Service
- Fellow, Lovelace Biomedical Research Institute
Memberships and Affiliations
- Chair, Institutional Biosafety Committee
Teaching Responsibilities
- Medical Microbiology (SOM)
- General Microbiology II (GSBMS)
- Microbiology and Immunology (TCDM)
- Infectious Diseases (NYCPM)
