MICHAEL G. RINALDI, Ph.D.
Professor
Phone (voice): 210 567 4132
E-mail: rinaldi@uthscsa.edu

Degrees

1980, Ph.D., University of California
1971, M.A., University of California
1969, B.A., University of Pacific

Postdoctoral Training

1972, University of California, Graduate Courses in Clinical Microbiology

Description of Research

Our research involves the laboratory evaluation of antifungal antimicrobics. These activities include both in vitro/in vivo examination of drug efficacy and the correlation of such data with therapeutic response in patients experiencing mycoses. Additionally, we are most interested in development of diagnostic methods for mycotic diseases, and the contemporary/accurate taxonomy, nomenclature, and classification of pathogenic fungi. Specifically, the Fungus Testing Laboratory is a national reference site for the testing of antifungal agents in all aspects. This laboratory is fully accredited for interstate commerce, and has received specimens from over 1,864 medical facilities throughout the nation, Mexico, Canada, South America, Asia, and Europe. The laboratory is also an appointed site location for the Subcommittee on Antifungal Susceptibility Testing of the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards. The VA Mycology Reference Laboratory accomplishes analogous activities for federal government medical facilities.

Selected References

Odds FC, Rinaldi MG, Cooper CR Jr., Fothergill A, Pasarell L, McGinnis MR. A blinded evaluation of use of pseudohypha formation as basis for identification of medically important yeasts. J Clin Microbiol 35:313-316, 1997.

Pfaller MA, Rex JH, Rinaldi MG. Antifungal susceptibility testing: technical advances and potential clinical applications. Clin Infect Dis 24:776-784, 1997.

Redding SW, Pfaller MA, Messer SA, Smith JA, Prows J, Bradley LL,
Fothergill AW, Rinaldi MG. Variations in fluconazole susceptibility and DNA subtyping of multiple Candida albicans colonies from patients with AIDS and oral candidiasis suffering one or more episodes of infection. J Clin Microbiol 35:1761-1765, 1997.

Rex JH, Pfaller MA, Galgiani JN, Bartlett MS, Espinel-Ingroff A, Ghannoum MA, Lancaster M, Odds FC, Rinaldi MG, Walsh TJ, Barry AL. Development of interpretive breakpoints for antifungal susceptibility testing: conceptual framework and analysis of in-vitro-in vivo correlation data for flucorazole, itraconazole, and Candida infections. Clin Infect Dis 24:235-247, 1997.

White TC, Pfaller MA, Rinaldi MG, Smith J, Redding SW. Stable azole drug resistance associated with a substrain of Candida albicans from an HIV-infected patient. Oral Diseases 3 (Suppl 1):5102-5109, 1997.