David A. Hunstad, M.D.

Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Molecular Microbiology
Director, Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program

Division of Infectious Diseases
Pathobiology Research Unit

Dr. Hunstad evaluates children with a variety of infectious diseases at St. Louis Children's Hospital. In his research laboratory in the McDonnell Pediatric Research Building, he studies the interactions of Gram-negative bacteria with their hosts. He is particularly interested in mechanisms by which uropathogenic Escherichia coli interfere with host immune responses in order to establish infection. Related projects in the laboratory are aimed at determining how bacterial outer membrane proteins promote virulence. The goal of these studies is to develop new targets useful in the prevention and treatment of Gram-negative bacterial infections of the urinary tract.  He also participates in collaborative, translational studies of community-associated Staphylococcus aureus infections led by the research group of Stephanie Fritz.