PIDs patients are affected by microorganism communities either alone or in combination. For example, a CARD9 deficiency mainly affects the fungal infection of one phylum (Ascomycota), while a STAT3 deficiency might lead to a Staph aureus and CMC infection. On the other hand, DOCK8 deficient patients present with viral infections only. Thus, a unique infection profile is evident for each immune gene defect suggesting their distinct role in maintaining skin homeostasis. Using a sample of patients and a mice model, and with the help of high-throughput techniques like single-cell RNA-seq, it will be possible to relate the mechanism of the susceptibility of a single type of infection to one type of gene defect.

In the future, Dr. Goel plans to develop a new diagnostic assay and delineate the molecular mechanism of unknown and new PIDs with respect to skin biology and infections.