Projects per year
Personal profile
Personal profile
After completing his fellowship in hematopathology, Dr. Olsen became an Instructor in Houston Methodist Research Institute. He was recently awarded a Fellow-to-Faculty transition award from the American Heart Association to investigate virulence genetics in group A Streptococcus. The study will focus on why certain strains are more capable of causing necrotizing fasciitis, or the devastating “flesh eating” disease. He is a member of several professional societies.
Research interests
The research in Dr. Olsen’s laboratory is focused on studying the molecular pathogenesis of invasive group A Streptococcus (GAS) infections such as necrotizing fasciitis (NF, also termed the “flesh eating infection”). During the past several years, there have been marked advances in the study of GAS genetics and epidemiology, but overall knowledge of the key molecular pathways and host-pathogen interactions mediating GAS virulence in invasive deep soft tissue infections remains largely incomplete. Previous studies in the Musser laboratory suggest that the metal transporter of the Streptococcus regulator (mtsR) regulatory gene and/or the genes under its control (the “mtsR Axis”) may play an important role in GAS NF. Dr. Olsen’s laboratory uses an integrated molecular approach to study the “mtsR Axis” in GAS NF. Affymetrix GAS gene expression microarray analysis, Luminex-based human serum protein profiling, tissue microarray examination, flow cytometric analysis, in vivo molecular imaging, quantitative microbial culture, and in vitro immunologic assays will be used for the detailed study of specimens derived from preclinical models and human patients. The long-term goal is to leverage knowledge gained to aid the development of new diagnostic tools, vaccine strategies, and therapeutic agents that will significantly improve patient care.
Education/Academic qualification
Hepatology/Transplant Medicine, Clinical Fellowship, The Methodist Hospital
Jul 1 2006 → Jun 1 2007
Award Date: Jun 1 2007
Pathology, Residency, Baylor College of Medicine
Jul 1 2003 → Jun 1 2006
Award Date: Jun 1 2006
MD, University of Nebraska Medical School, Omaha, NE
Aug 1 1996 → May 1 2003
Award Date: May 1 2003
Pathology and Microbiology, PhD, University of Nebraska
1997 → 2004
Hematopathology, Research Fellowship, Houston Methodist Hospital
Research Area Keywords
- Infectious Disease & Pathology
Free-text keywords
- Group A Streptococcus
- Necrotizing fasciitis
- Invasive infection
- Pathogen-host interactions
- Microbial virulence
Network
Recent external collaboration on country level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots.
Projects
Molecular mechanism of streptococcal adaptation to host nutritional defenses
Kumaraswami, M. & Olsen, R. J.
2/25/20 → 1/31/25
Project: Federal Funding Agencies
Determinants of Streptococcus pyogenes fitness in the female primate genital tract: A genome-wide analysis
Musser, J. M., Olsen, R. J. & Zhu, L.
6/1/19 → 5/31/21
Project: Federal Funding Agencies
Determinants of Streptococcus pyogenes virulence in the primate oropharynx: A genome-wide analysis
Musser, J. M., Olsen, R. J. & Zhu, L.
2/15/19 → 1/31/21
Project: Federal Funding Agencies
Molecular mechanism of virulence regulation in Streptococcus pyogenes
Kumaraswami, M. & Olsen, R. J.
3/1/15 → 2/28/21
Project: Federal Funding Agencies
Research Output
A Single Amino Acid Replacement in Penicillin-Binding Protein 2X in Streptococcus pyogenes Significantly Increases Fitness on Subtherapeutic Benzylpenicillin Treatment in a Mouse Model of Necrotizing Myositis
Olsen, R. J., Zhu, L. & Musser, J. M., Aug 1 2020, In : American Journal of Pathology. 190, 8, p. 1625-1631 7 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
1
Scopus
citations
Clinical Utility of Reflex Ordered Testing for Molecular Biomarkers in Lung Adenocarcinoma
Anand, K., Phung, T. L., Bernicker, E. H., Cagle, P. T., Olsen, R. J. & Thomas, J. S., Jan 1 2020, In : Clinical Lung Cancer.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
Convalescent plasma anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike protein ectodomain and receptor binding domain IgG correlate with virus neutralization
Salazar, E., Kuchipudi, S. V., Christensen, P. A., Eagar, T., Yi, X., Zhao, P., Jin, Z., Long, S. W., Olsen, R. J., Chen, J., Castillo, B., Leveque, C., Towers, D., Lavinder, J. J., Gollihar, J., Cardona, J. A., Ippolito, G. C., Nissly, R. H., Bird, I., Greenawalt, D. & 14 others, , Sep 10 2020, In : The Journal of clinical investigation.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
Genetic heterogeneity of the Spy1336/R28—Spy1337 virulence axis in Streptococcus pyogenes and effect on gene transcript levels and pathogenesis
Eraso, J. M., Kachroo, P., Olsen, R. J., Beres, S. B., Zhu, L., Badu, T., Shannon, S., Cantu, C. C., Saavedra, M. O., Kubiak, S. L., Porter, A. R., DeLeo, F. R. & Musser, J. M., 2020, In : PLoS ONE. 15, 3, e0229064.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
Genome-Wide Screens Identify Group A Streptococcus Surface Proteins Promoting Female Genital Tract Colonization and Virulence
Zhu, L., Olsen, R. J., Beres, S. B., Ojeda Saavedra, M., Kubiak, S. L., Cantu, C. C., Jenkins, L., Yerramilli, P., Pruitt, L., Charbonneau, A. R. L., Waller, A. S. & Musser, J. M., Apr 1 2020, In : American Journal of Pathology. 190, 4, p. 862-873 12 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
Prizes
Academic Excellence Award
Olsen, Randall J. (Recipient), 2016
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Best Publication in Translational Research (coauthor)
Olsen, Randall J. (Recipient), 2015
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)