Stefanie Au

Ms. Stefanie Au


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

1Year (2026-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
SAStefanie Au
Stefanie Au
SSSeema Saini
Seema Saini
WCWilliam Dela Cruz
William Dela Cruz
Vishwanath VenketaramanVishwanath Venketaraman
Vishwanath Venketaraman
Measles remains a significant global health threat due to its extreme transmissibility and the potential for severe, long-term complications. This review synthesizes the most up-to-date literature on the host response, immunological impact, current treatments, and prevention of the measles virus (MeV). The review details host immune evasion mechanisms, including the antagonism of interferon signaling, discusses genetic associations with vaccine failure, and explores adjunctive treatments like vitamin A and ribavirin. Despite the success of the two-dose MMR vaccine, recent resurgences in the United States, peaking at 2065 cases in 2025, underscore a critical decline in herd immunity driven by vaccine hesitancy and pandemic-related disruptions. However, with no FDA-approved antiviral, primary prevention via vaccination remains the only effective strategy. This paper emphasizes the necessity of strengthening public health outreach and standardizing international surveillance to mitigate the rising incidence of this preventable disease.

23 February 2026 in Biomolecules
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
SAStefanie Au
Stefanie Au
WCWilliam Dela Cruz
William Dela Cruz
MLMehzabin Lala
Mehzabin Lala
SKSrinivasan Karthikeyan
Srinivasan Karthikeyan
Vishwanath VenketaramanVishwanath Venketaraman
Vishwanath Venketaraman
Staphylococcus epidermidis is more often known as a human skin commensal, serving as a primary protective bacterium on the skin’s surface. However, more recent literature highlights the role of S. epidermidis as a nosocomial pathogen and a multidrug-resistant organism that poses a global threat. The evolution of S. epidermidis can be owed to its accumulation of resistance mechanisms, including adhesion, biofilm formation, genomic islands, phage elements, integrated plasmids, and quorum sensing. It is suspected that through gene transfer, S. epidermidis is partially responsible for the feared multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus through the mecA gene and many other genomic island transfers. Overall, prolonged nosocomial exposure and misuse of antibiotics have driven dramatic genomic remodeling in S. epidermidis, characterized by many methods of genetic recombination, SCCmec and insertion sequence acquisition, and accumulation of multiple resistance genes. Our review reviews the role of S. epidermidis as both a commensal and a pathogenic bacterium, summarizes the genes responsible for its multidrug resistance, and describes methods of combatting its invasion.

9 February 2026 in Nutrients
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
John DawiJohn Dawi
John Dawi
Scarlet AffaScarlet Affa
Scarlet Affa
SAStefanie Au
Stefanie Au
YMYura Misakyan
Yura Misakyan
EGEdgar Gonzalez
Edgar Gonzalez
Vishwanath VenketaramanVishwanath Venketaraman
Vishwanath Venketaraman
Glutathione (GSH), the most abundant intracellular non-protein thiol, is a central regulator F redox homeostasis, immune function, and mitochondrial integrity. In human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, persistent oxidative stress and impaired precursor availability result in sustained glutathione deficiency, contributing to immune dysfunction, inflammation, and disease progression despite effective antiretroviral therapy. This redox imbalance is further exacerbated in HIV–tuberculosis co-infection, where compounded inflammatory and metabolic stress increases susceptibility to opportunistic infections and treatment-related complications. This review examines the efficacy and safety of glutathione supplementation and precursor-based strategies in HIV infection and HIV–tuberculosis co-infection. Evidence from mechanistic studies, clinical trials, and translational research suggests that glutathione repletion, achieved through direct supplementation or precursor approaches such as N-acetylcysteine, Glycine and N-acetylcysteine (GlyNAC), and cysteine-rich dietary interventions, can restore intracellular thiol balance, improve immune cell function, enhance mitochondrial performance, and reduce systemic oxidative stress. These interventions have shown consistent safety and tolerability across diverse populations, including individuals receiving complex antiretroviral and antitubercular regimens, with gastrointestinal discomfort being the most commonly reported adverse effect and serious toxicities remaining rare. Despite encouraging findings, translation into routine clinical practice remains limited by methodological heterogeneity, short study durations, and lack of standardized biomarkers and long-term outcome data. Future research should prioritize rigorously designed trials incorporating mechanistic endpoints, standardized redox measurements, and clinically meaningful outcomes. Collectively, the available evidence supports glutathione-centered strategies as promising adjuncts to existing HIV and tuberculosis treatment paradigms, warranting further investigation to define their role in improving immune resilience and long-term clinical outcomes.

1 July 2026 in Nutrients
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
SAStefanie Au
Stefanie Au
John DawiJohn Dawi
John Dawi
Scarlet AffaScarlet Affa
Scarlet Affa
YMYura Misakyan
Yura Misakyan
EGEdgar Gonzalez
Edgar Gonzalez
Vishwanath VenketaramanVishwanath Venketaraman
Vishwanath Venketaraman
Glutathione (GSH), the most abundant intracellular antioxidant, plays a central role in maintaining redox homeostasis, regulating immune responses, and protecting cellular integrity. In chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), GSH deficiency is a consistent hallmark, contributing to oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, and progressive organ damage. This review critically examines the efficacy and safety of GSH supplementation and precursor strategies, synthesizing evidence across mechanistic studies, clinical trials, and translational research. In T2DM, GSH augmentation has been linked to improved insulin sensitivity, reduced oxidative damage, and better microvascular outcomes, although findings remain preliminary and heterogeneous. Safety profiles across populations are highly favorable, with gastrointestinal discomfort being the most reported adverse effect and serious toxicities rare. Importantly, both acute and chronic studies reinforce the compatibility of GSH and its precursors with standard antiretroviral and antidiabetic therapies. Despite this encouraging data, significant research gaps remain. Standardization of biomarkers, dose–response mapping, and long-term outcomes are urgently needed to move from proof-of-concept to clinical trials. Future directions include integrating mechanistic endpoints such as mitochondrial function and multi-omic profiling, exploring targeted delivery systems, and embedding implementation science to ensure real-world feasibility and equity. Collectively, the emerging evidence supports GSH-centered strategies as promising adjuncts for oxidative stress-driven chronic disease. Rigorous, well-designed trials are now required to define their definitive role in clinical care.