Anne Wyllie, PhD
Research Scientist in Epidemiology (Microbial Diseases)Cards
Additional Titles
Affiliated Faculty, Yale Institute for Global Health
Member, Center for Infection and Immunity
Contact Info
About
Titles
Research Scientist in Epidemiology (Microbial Diseases)
Affiliated Faculty, Yale Institute for Global Health; Member, Center for Infection and ImmunityBiography
As compared to the gold standard nasopharyngeal swab, Dr. Wyllie’s work has identified saliva as a reliable sample type for the sensitive detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae (the pneumococcus) in healthy older adults and more recently, SARS-CoV-2 in persons suspected of COVID-19. Improved detection of the pneumococcus has unveiled hidden reservoirs of pneumococcus in older adults which holds importance when new vaccination strategies for preventing pneumococcal disease are being considered. For COVID-19, sampling saliva can alleviate many of the bottlenecks encountered in the mass testing strategies required to control continuing outbreaks. In an effort to address many of these issues, Wyllie further validated and optimized saliva for SARS-CoV-2 detection and developed SalivaDirect: a simple, scalable and importantly, cost-effective method to help alleviate SARS-CoV-2 testing demands.
Appointments
Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases
Research ScientistPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
- Center for Infection and Immunity
- Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases
- SalivaDirect
- Weinberger Lab
- Yale School of Public Health
Education & Training
- PhD
- Utrecht University, Medical Microbiology (2016)
- MBioMedSci
- University of Auckland, Cancer Immunology (2009)
- BMedSci
- University of Auckland, Immunology and Microbiology (2007)
Research
Overview
Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
ORCID
0000-0001-6015-0279- View Lab Website
Wyllie Lab and The SalivaDirect Initiative
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Publications Timeline
Research Interests
Nathan Grubaugh, PhD
Albert Ko, MD
Chantal Vogels, PhD
Akiko Iwasaki, PhD
Orchid M Allicock
Chaney Kalinich, MPH
Saliva
Streptococcus pneumoniae
Pneumococcal Infections
Carrier State
Aged
Coronavirus Infections
Publications
2024
Diagnostic testing preferences can help inform future public health response efforts: Global insights from an international survey
Salzano L, Narayanan N, Tobik E, Akbarzada S, Wu Y, Megiel S, Choate B, Wyllie A. Diagnostic testing preferences can help inform future public health response efforts: Global insights from an international survey. PLOS Global Public Health 2024, 4: e0003547. PMID: 39078819, PMCID: PMC11288416, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0003547.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsPublic health response effortsTest preferenceSurvey responsesResponse effortsInternational surveySARS-CoV-2Healthcare worker-collected samplingSARS-CoV-2 testingOral swabsHealthcare workersQualtrics surveySaliva-based testRank sum analysisSurveillance testing programDemographic dataBachelor's degreeHealthcareInfluence willingnessGraduate degreeSurveyIncreased utilizationDiagnostic testsSampling methodPersonal experiencePCR testA low-cost culture- and DNA extraction-free method for the molecular detection of pneumococcal carriage in saliva.
Peno C, Lin T, Hislop M, Yolda-Carr D, Farjado K, York A, Pitzer V, Weinberger D, Bei A, Allicock O, Wyllie A. A low-cost culture- and DNA extraction-free method for the molecular detection of pneumococcal carriage in saliva. Microbiology Spectrum 2024, e0059124. PMID: 39028185, DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00591-24.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDetection of pneumococciDetection of pneumococcal carriagePneumococcal carriageCarriage surveillanceLow-resource settingsChildren attending childcare centersCarriage of pneumococciDNA extractionSaliva samplesMolecular methodsCultural enrichmentImprove surveillance effortsQPCR-based protocolPneumococcal vaccineExtraction-free methodMolecular detectionNucleic acid extractionVaccination strategiesPneumococciCulture-enrichment methodExtraction-free protocolPurified DNASalivaPaired samplesCarriageUpper respiratory Streptococcus pneumoniae colonization among working-age adults with prevalent exposure to overcrowding
Parker A, Jackson N, Awasthi S, Kim H, Alwan T, Wyllie A, Kogut K, Holland N, Mora A, Eskenazi B, Riley L, Lewnard J. Upper respiratory Streptococcus pneumoniae colonization among working-age adults with prevalent exposure to overcrowding. Microbiology Spectrum 2024, 12: e00879-24. PMID: 39012111, PMCID: PMC11302326, DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00879-24.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPneumococcal carriageStreptococcus pneumoniae</i>Pneumococcal diseaseLt;5 yearsPredictors of carriagePrecursor to pneumococcal diseaseAssociated with increased riskRisk of carriageExposure to childrenYoung childrenExposure to young childrenCycle threshold valuesPneumococcal densityVulnerable age groupRisk factorsPneumococcal transmissionIncreased prevalenceNon-carriersPneumococciAge groupsCarriageSaliva samplesAdult populationMilitary recruitsQuantitative PCR assaySerological Profiling of Pneumococcal Proteins Reveals Unique Patterns of Acquisition, Maintenance, and Waning of Antibodies Throughout Life
He S, Voß F, Nicolaie M, Brummelman J, van de Garde M, Bijvank E, Poelen M, Wijmenga-Monsuur A, Wyllie A, Trzciński K, Van Beek J, Rots N, Hartog G, Hammerschmidt S, van C. Serological Profiling of Pneumococcal Proteins Reveals Unique Patterns of Acquisition, Maintenance, and Waning of Antibodies Throughout Life. The Journal Of Infectious Diseases 2024, jiae216. PMID: 38679601, DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiae216.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsIgG levelsPneumococcal proteinsAntibody responseLow IgG levelsSerum IgG levelsWaning of antibodiesIncreased IgG levelsAdults aged >Age-targeted interventionsProtein-specific antibody responsesPneumococcal carriageOlder adults aged >Streptococcus pneumoniaeSerological profileOlder infantsOlder ageOlder childrenOlder adultsAntibodiesAgeCarriageAdultsChildrenUnique pattern
2023
2604. Contact With School-Aged Children is a Major Risk Factor for Pneumococcal Colonization in Older Adults
Wyllie A, Yolda-Carr D, Hislop M, Mbodj S, Kennedy H, McLaughlin M, Wurst L, Waghela P, Peno C, Alexander-Parrish R, Arguedas A, Gessner B, Weinberger D. 2604. Contact With School-Aged Children is a Major Risk Factor for Pneumococcal Colonization in Older Adults. Open Forum Infectious Diseases 2023, 10: ofad500.2218. PMCID: PMC10679235, DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofad500.2218.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPneumococcal conjugate vaccineOlder adultsTime pointsRisk factorsPneumococcal colonizationAdult transmissionTransmission of pneumococciMajor risk factorRecent contactYear oldsNon-institutionalized individualsYears of ageGrant/research supportSame time pointsPneumococcal acquisitionConjugate vaccineSchool-Aged ChildrenElevated prevalenceYoung school-age childrenHealth statusYoung contactsSaliva samplesMedical directorsSample adultsPneumococci880. Diagnostic Testing Sample-Type Preferences: Results From An International Survey On SARS-CoV-2
Akbarzada S, Narayanan N, Salzano L, Tobik E, Megiel S, Duni C, Choate B, Harper S, Wyllie A. 880. Diagnostic Testing Sample-Type Preferences: Results From An International Survey On SARS-CoV-2. Open Forum Infectious Diseases 2023, 10: ofad500.925. PMCID: PMC10676974, DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofad500.925.Peer-Reviewed Original Research881. Saliva-Based, Extraction-Free PCR Testing For The Detection Of Key Respiratory Pathogens
Allicock O, Lin T, Fajardo K, Yolda-Carr D, Hislop M, Wang J, Zuniga D, Platt W, Tuohy B, Peno C, Wyllie A. 881. Saliva-Based, Extraction-Free PCR Testing For The Detection Of Key Respiratory Pathogens. Open Forum Infectious Diseases 2023, 10: ofad500.926. PMCID: PMC10677551, DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofad500.926.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSARS-CoV-2Saliva samplesRespiratory virusesRespiratory pathogensSARS-CoV-2 PCR testInfluenza A/BSARS-CoV-2 testingUpper respiratory tract pathogensAdditional respiratory virusesDetection of hMPVMass testing strategyPCR testCommon respiratory virusesCommon respiratory pathogensRespiratory tract pathogensKey respiratory pathogensYears of ageSARS-CoV-2 detectionGrant/research supportTransmissible infectious diseasesUse of salivaYale HealthRespiratory symptomsInfluenza B.Nasopharyngeal swabs649. Expansion Of A Low-Cost, Open-Source, Saliva-Based PCR Test For The Detection Of Mpox Virus
Thomas R, Yolda-Carr D, Steel S, Tobik E, Zepeda T, Brownlee M, Saladi S, Parkin J, Fajardo K, Allicock O, Wyllie A. 649. Expansion Of A Low-Cost, Open-Source, Saliva-Based PCR Test For The Detection Of Mpox Virus. Open Forum Infectious Diseases 2023, 10: ofad500.712. PMCID: PMC10677374, DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofad500.712.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSaliva as an alternative sample type for detection of pneumococcal carriage in young children
Wyllie A, Rots N, Wijmenga-Monsuur A, van Houten M, Sanders E, Trzciński K. Saliva as an alternative sample type for detection of pneumococcal carriage in young children. Microbiology 2023, 169: 001394. PMID: 37819029, PMCID: PMC10634364, DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.001394.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsNasopharyngeal swabsCarriage detectionPneumococcal carriageSaliva samplesSubset of serotypesOlder age groupsConventional cultureAlternative sample typePneumococcal colonizationPneumococcal detectionPolymicrobial growthAge groupsStudy participantsSaliva samplingSwabsDiagnostic culturesGold standardLongitudinal studyYoung childrenSalivaCarriageChildrenInfantsMolecular detection methodsPneumococciSevere acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA and viable virus contamination of hospital emergency department surfaces and association with patient coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) status and aerosol-generating procedures
Roberts S, Barbell E, Barber D, Dahlberg S, Heimer R, Jubanyik K, Parwani V, Pettigrew M, Tanner J, Ulrich A, Wade M, Wyllie A, Yolda-Carr D, Martinello R, Tanner W. Severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA and viable virus contamination of hospital emergency department surfaces and association with patient coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) status and aerosol-generating procedures. Infection Control And Hospital Epidemiology 2023, 45: 244-246. PMID: 37767709, PMCID: PMC10877528, DOI: 10.1017/ice.2023.183.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetric
Academic Achievements and Community Involvement
honor Young Investigator Award in Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
International AwardEuropean Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID)Details04/15/2023Switzerlandhonor Unlocking Potential Grant
International AwardMicrobiology SocietyDetails07/15/2022United Kingdomhonor 2021 Outstanding Manuscript of the Year
National AwardThe Association of Biomolecular Resource FacilitiesDetails06/01/2022United Stateshonor World Changing Ideas: Finalist
National AwardFast CompanyDetails04/26/2022United Stateshonor COVID-19 Research Award
Yale University AwardYale School of Public HealthDetails05/24/2021United States
Links & Media
Media
News
- July 12, 2024
Mobile Lab Helps Yale Pathology Establish Relationships, Build Trust With Community
- July 11, 2024Source: Nature
Saliva-based tests offer an alternative to nasal swabbing
- April 03, 2024Source: Newsweek
Kids May Be Putting Grandparents at Risk of Pneumonia
- April 24, 2023
High-Tech Mobile Lab-in-a-Van Will Bring Needed Testing to Underserved Communities
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Contacts
Administrative Support
Locations
LEPH 823
Academic Office
Yale School of Public Health (LEPH)
60 College Street
New Haven, CT 06510