Karakousis, Petros C., M.D.

Assistant Professor of Medicine
Division of Infectious Diseases

Dr. Karakousis’ primary research interests are the molecular basis of microbial dormancy and the host-pathogen relationship underlying the phenomenon of persistence.

Major research activities include studying the adaptation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to stress conditions believed to be important in dormant lesions in vivo, including oxygen limitation and nutrient deprivation, as well as the phenomenon of phenotypic tolerance to antibiotics. In particular, the regulatory cascade involved in the stringent response is under active investigation. Recent work also has focused on mechanisms of phosphorus regulation and assimilation under phosphorus starvation conditions. In vivo models used to test particular mutant phenotypes include the mouse, guinea pig, and the hollow fiber model of latent TB infection. The guinea pig model of TB, which forms caseation necrosis as in human TB lesions, is also being used to study the sterilizing activity of novel drugs and drug combinations against persisters, with the ultimate goal of shortening anti-tuberculous chemotherapy.     

Dr. Karakousis received his undergraduate degree in 1994 from the Johns Hopkins University and his medical degree in 1998 from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.  He completed residency training in Internal Medicine in 2001 at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.  After completing fellowship training in Infectious Diseases at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, he joined the faculty in 2005.

Business Address:

Center for Tuberculosis Research
Dept. of Medicine, Div. of Infectious Diseases
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
1550 Orleans St., Room 106
Baltimore, MD 21231                                      
Tel: 410-502-8233
Fax: 410-614-8173
E-mail: petros@jhmi.edu

Publications: To read some of these publications online, click here. Please note that to read the full text of some of these articles requires that you have an online subscription to the journal.

Peer-reviewed articles:

1.    Williams, E. P., J. H. Lee, W. R. Bishai, C. Colantuoni, and P. C. Karakousis. 2007. Mycobacterium tuberculosis SigF regulates genes encoding cell wall-associated proteins and directly regulates the transcriptional regulatory gene phoY1. J Bacteriol 189:4234-42.

2.    Riddell, J. t., D. R. Kaul, P. C. Karakousis, J. E. Gallant, J. Mitty, and P. H. Kazanjian. 2007. Mycobacterium avium complex immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome: Long term outcomes. J Transl Med 5:50.

3.    Lee, J. H., P. C. Karakousis, and W. R. Bishai. 2007. The roles of SigB and SigF in the Mycobacterium tuberculosis sigma factor network. J Bacteriol.

4.    Karakousis, P. C., E. P. Williams, and W. R. Bishai. 2007. Altered expression of isoniazid-regulated genes in drug-treated dormant Mycobacterium tuberculosis. J Antimicrob Chemother.

5.    Karakousis, P. C., F. G. Sifakis, R. M. de Oca, V. C. Amorosa, K. R. Page, Y. C. Manabe, and J. D. Campbell. 2007. U.S. medical resident familiarity with national tuberculosis guidelines. BMC Infect Dis 7:89.

6.    Karakousis, P. C., S. S. Magill, and A. Gupta. 2007. Paraplegia caused by invasive spinal aspergillosis. Neurology 68:158.

7.    Jain, S. K., S. M. Hernandez-Abanto, Q. J. Cheng, P. Singh, L. H. Ly, L. G. Klinkenberg, N. E. Morrison, P. J. Converse, E. Nuermberger, J. Grosset, D. N. McMurray, P. C. Karakousis, G. Lamichhane, and W. R. Bishai. 2007. Accelerated detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis genes essential for bacterial survival in guinea pigs, compared with mice. J Infect Dis 195:1634-42.

8.    Karakousis, P. C., M. Trucksis, and J. S. Dumler. 2006. Chronic Q fever in the United States. J Clin Microbiol 44:2283-7.

9.    Brastianos, P. K., J. W. Swanson, M. Torbenson, J. Sperati, and P. C. Karakousis. 2006. Tuberculosis-associated haemophagocytic syndrome. Lancet Infect Dis 6:447-54.

10.   Karakousis, P. C., T. Yoshimatsu, G. Lamichhane, S. C. Woolwine, E. L. Nuermberger, J. Grosset, and W. R. Bishai. 2004. Dormancy phenotype displayed by extracellular Mycobacterium tuberculosis within artificial granulomas in mice. J Exp Med 200:647-57.

11.   Karakousis, P. C., K. R. Page, and W. R. Bishai. 2004. From the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) meeting - important new findings in HIV treatment and pathogenesis, 2003. Hopkins HIV Rep 16:2-3.

12.   Karakousis, P. C., R. D. Moore, and R. E. Chaisson. 2004. Mycobacterium avium complex in patients with HIV infection in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy. Lancet Infect Dis 4:557-65.

13.   Karakousis, P. C., W. R. Bishai, and S. E. Dorman. 2004. Mycobacterium tuberculosis cell envelope lipids and the host immune response. Cell Microbiol 6:105-16.

14.   Coppola, A. G., P. C. Karakousis, D. C. Metz, M. F. Go, M. Mhokashi, C. W. Howden, J. P. Raufman, and V. K. Sharma. 2004. Hepatitis C knowledge among primary care residents: is our teaching adequate for the times? Am J Gastroenterol 99:1720-5.

15.   Page, K. R., P. C. Karakousis, and J. N. Maslow. 2003. Postoperative pneumococcal cellulitis in systemic lupus erythematosus. Scand J Infect Dis 35:141-3.

16.   Karakousis, P. C., M. S. Lee, R. J. Grostern, and C. W. Nichols. 2002. The role of conjunctival biopsy in the diagnosis of Wegener's granulomatosis: a case report. Can J Ophthalmol 37:179-81.

17.   Karakousis, P. C., and J. E. Tomaszewski. 2001. Ulcerating subcutaneous nodules and advanced renal failure: is it time for a new liver? Nephrol Dial Transplant 16:2095-6.

18.   Karakousis, P. C., K. R. Page, M. A. Varello, P. J. Howlett, and D. D. Stieritz. 2001. Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome after infection with group A streptococcus. Mayo Clin Proc 76:1167-70.

19.   Karakousis, P. C., S. K. John, K. C. Behling, E. M. Surace, J. E. Smith, A. Hendrickson, W. X. Tang, J. Bennett, and A. H. Milam. 2001. Localization of pigment epithelium derived factor (PEDF) in developing and adult human ocular tissues. Mol Vis 7:154-63.

20.   Canning, B. J., B. J. Undem, P. C. Karakousis, and R. D. Dey. 1996. Effects of organotypic culture on parasympathetic innervation of guinea pig trachealis. Am J Physiol 271:L698-706.

Non-peer-reviewed articles:

1.  Karakousis P, Moore RD, Chaisson RE.  Non-tuberculous mycobacteria in HIV-infected patients: geographic, behavioural, and immunological factors - Authors' reply. Lancet Infect Dis. 2005; 5:396.

2. Karakousis PC, Page KR, Bishai WR.  From the IDSA meeting—Important new findings in HIV treatment and pathogenesis, 2003.  Hopkins HIV Rep. 2004; 16:2-3.  

Other media:

1. Karakousis PC, Bishai WR, Chaisson RE.  Management of community-acquired pneumonia: Improving patient outcomes; a satellite symposium preceding the 40th IDSA Annual Meeting.  JHU antibiotic guide website (http://hopkins-abxguide.org).  Posted December 2002.                                                  

2. Karakousis PC, Bishai WR.  Synopsis of key presentations at the 40th annual meeting of IDSA (October 24-27, 2002, Chicago).  JHU antibiotic guide website (http://hopkins-abxguide.org).  Posted November 2002.

3. Karakousis PC, Page KR, Bishai WR.  Greetings from sunny (most of the time) San Dieg  Highlights from the 41st annual meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America.  JHU antibiotic guide website (http://hopkins-abxguide.org).  Posted November 2003.

Conference abstracts:

1. Karakousis PC, Yoshimatsu T, Jedlicka A, Bishai WR.  Host immune factors responsible for the dormancy phenotype of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the hollow fiber model of latent tuberculosis infection.  Tuberculosis: Integrating Host and Pathogen Biology, Keystone Symposium, April 2005.        

2. Karakousis PC, Yoshimatsu T, Lamichhane G, Woolwine SC, Nuermberger EL, Grosset J, Bishai WR.  An in vivo granuloma model of latent tuberculosis infection.  American Thoracic Society Annual Meeting, May 2004.

3. Karakousis PC, Yoshimatsu T, Nuermberger E, Yoder M, Grosset J, Bishai WR.  The hollow fiber model of latent tuberculosis infection.  Infectious Diseases Society of America Annual Meeting, October 2003.

4. Karakousis PC, Yoshimatsu T, Nuermberger E, Yoder M, Grosset J, Bishai WR.  The hollow fiber encapsulation/implantation technique as a model for latent tuberculosis infection. Department of Medicine Annual Meeting, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, April 2003.

5. Knight AK, Karakousis PC, Levinson A.  Warts as a presenting symptom of immunodeficiency.  ACP-ASIM Annual Meeting, April 2002.

6. Karakousis PC, John SK, Behling KC , Surace EM, Smith JE, Hendrickson A, Tang W-X, Bennett J, Milam AH. Localization of pigment epithelium derived factor (PEDF) in developing and adult human ocular tissues.  Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Annual Meeting, May 2001.

7. Coppola AG, Sharma VK, Raufman J-P, Karakousis PC, Metz DC, Go MF, Mhokashi M, Howden C. A survey of primary care residents’ opinions and practices related to hepatitis C (HCV). American Gastroenterological Association Annual Meeting, April 2000.