Brentin L Roller

Interests

No activities entered.

Courses

No activities entered.

Scholarly Contributions

Journals/Publications

• Roller, B. L. (2021). Efficacy and safety of two neutralising monoclonal antibody therapies, sotrovimab and BRII-196 plus BRII-198, for adults hospitalised with COVID-19 (TICO): a randomised controlled trial. The Lancet. Infectious diseases.
  More info

  We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of two neutralising monoclonal antibody therapies (sotrovimab [Vir Biotechnology and GlaxoSmithKline] and BRII-196 plus BRII-198 [Brii Biosciences]) for adults admitted to hospital for COVID-19 (hereafter referred to as hospitalised) with COVID-19.
• Ampel, N. M., Robey, I., Nguyen, C. T., Roller, B., August, J., Knox, K. S., & Pappagianis, D. (2018). Ex vivo Cytokine Release, Determined by a Multiplex Cytokine Assay, in Response to Coccidioidal Antigen Stimulation of Whole Blood among Subjects with Recently Diagnosed Primary Pulmonary Coccidioidomycosis. mSphere, 3(3).
  More info

  The elements of the cellular immune response in human coccidioidomycosis remain undefined. We examined the release of an array of inflammatory proteins in response to incubation with a coccidioidal antigen preparation to ascertain which of these might be associated with diagnosis and outcome. Patients with a recent diagnosis of primary pulmonary coccidioidomycosis and a control group of healthy subjects were studied. Blood samples were incubated for 18 h with T27K, a soluble coccidioidal preparation containing multiple glycosylated antigens, and the supernatant was assayed for inflammatory proteins using the multiplex Luminex system. The presentation and course of illness were compared to the levels of the inflammatory proteins. Among the 31 subjects studied, the median time from diagnosis to assay was 15 days. Of the 30 inflammatory proteins measured, the levels of only 7 proteins, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interleukin-1 receptor alpha (IL-1RA), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interferon gamma (IFN-γ), IL-2, IL-13, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), were more than 10-fold above the levels seen without antigen stimulation. The levels of IFN-γ and IL-2 were significantly elevated in those subjects not receiving triazole antifungal therapy compared to those who were receiving triazole antifungal therapy. While the levels of IL-1RA were nonspecifically elevated, elevated levels of IL-13 were seen only in those with active pulmonary coccidioidomycosis. Only six cytokines were specifically increased in subjects with recently diagnosed primary pulmonary coccidioidomycosis. While IFN-γ, IL-2, and TNF-α have been previously noted, the finding of elevated levels of the innate cytokines GM-CSF and IL-1β could suggest that these, as well as IL-13, are early and specific markers for pulmonary coccidioidomycosis. Coccidioidomycosis, commonly known as Valley fever, is a common pneumonia in the southwestern United States. In this paper, we examined the release of 30 inflammatory proteins in whole-blood samples obtained from persons with coccidioidal pneumonia after the blood samples were incubated with a preparation made from the causative fungus, We found that six of these proteins, all cytokines, were specifically released in high concentrations in these patients. Three of the cytokines were seen very early in disease, and an assay for all six might serve as a marker for the early diagnosis of Valley fever.
• Mafi, N., Yaglom, H. D., Levy, C., Taylor, A., O'Grady, C., Venkat, H., Komatsu, K. K., Roller, B., Seville, M. T., Kusne, S., Po, J. L., Thorn, S., & Ampel, N. M. (2019). Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever in the White Mountains, Arizona, USA, 2013-2018. Emerging infectious diseases, 25(4), 649-653.
  More info

  Tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF) is a bacterial infection transmitted by tick bites that occurs in several different parts of the world, including the western United States. We describe 6 cases of TBRF acquired in the White Mountains of Arizona, USA, and diagnosed during 2013-2018. All but 1 case-patient had recurrent fever, and some had marked laboratory abnormalities, including leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, hyperbilirubinemia, and elevated aminotransaminases. One patient had uveitis. Diagnosis was delayed in 5 of the cases; all case-patients responded to therapy with doxycycline. Two patients had Jarisch-Herxheimer reactions. The White Mountains of Arizona have not been previously considered a region of high incidence for TBRF. These 6 cases likely represent a larger number of cases that might have been undiagnosed. Clinicians should be aware of TBRF in patients who reside, recreate, or travel to this area and especially for those who sleep overnight in cabins there.
• Tager, D., Hatch, A., Segar, J., Roller, B., Al Mohajer, M., & Zangeneh, T. T. (2017). Coccidioidal meningitis complicated by central nervous system vasculitis in a patient with leukemia. Medical mycology case reports, 16, 8-11.
  More info

  Central Nervous System (CNS) vasculitis is the most common life-threatening complication of coccidioidal meningitis. It is manifested by cerebral ischemia, hemorrhage, and infarction. We report a case of CNS vasculitis in a patient receiving chemotherapy and review of the literature on coccidioidal meningitis. The patient was treated with combination antifungal therapy and a short course of high dose corticosteroids with a modest improvement in her neurological examination after initiation of steroids.
• Tai, C. C., Chang, T., Roller, B., & Jessop, P. G. (2003). High-pressure combinatorial screening of homogeneous catalysts: hydrogenation of carbon dioxide. Inorganic chemistry, 42(23), 7340-1.
  More info

  A simple method for high-pressure combinatorial catalyst discovery with visual (dye-based) assay is described. With this method, the first highly active catalyst, incorporating metals outside the platinum group, has been identified for CO(2) hydrogenation.

Presentations

• Roller, B. (2018, April). Influenza review and updates. SAVAHCS Management Conference. Tucson, AZ: Southern Arizona Veterans Administration Healthcase System.
• Roller, B. (2017, Mach). Aerococcus urinae endocarditis. ARIDS - Arizona Infectious Diseases Society Annual CME Conference. Sedona, AZ: Arizona Infectious Diseases Society.
• Roller, B., Elliott, S. P., Matthias, K. R., & Nix, D. E. (2017, April). Update on diagnosis for several healthcare-associated infections. UA Department of Surgery Grand Rounds. Tucson, AZ: University of Arizona Department of Surgery.

Poster Presentations

• Roller, B., Robey, I., Nguyen, C., Ampel, N., & Pappagianis, D. (2016, Oct). Whole blood cytokine analysis in patients with recently diagnosed coccidioidomycosis. IDWeek 2016. New Orleans, LA: Infectious Diseases Society of America.
• Roller, B. (2015, Oct). Disseminated Coccidioides Associated with STAT 1 Mutation. ACP Arizona Chaper Meeting. Tucson, AZ: American College of Physicians, Arizona Chapter.
• Roller, B., Taweel, I., & Al Mohajer, M. (2015, Oct). Progressively Worsening Headache in an Immunocompromised Patient. A case of rhino-orbital-cerebral-mucormycosis. Annual Meeting of the Arizona Chapter of the American College of Physicians. Tucson, Arizona: Arizona Chapter of the American College of Physicians.