Faculty
Paul J Planet, Ph.D, M.D.
Associate Professor of Pediatrics (Infectious Diseases)
Department: Pediatrics
Graduate Group Affiliations
Contact information
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
3615 Civic Center Blvd
Abramson 1202A
Philadelphia, PA 19104
3615 Civic Center Blvd
Abramson 1202A
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Office: 9175140695
Email:
planetp@chop.edu
planetp@chop.edu
Publications
Education
BS (Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry and Anthropology)
Yale University, 1996.
Ph.D (Integrated Program for Cellular, Molecular, and Biophysical Studies)
Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, 2003.
MD
Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, 2004.
Permanent linkBS (Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry and Anthropology)
Yale University, 1996.
Ph.D (Integrated Program for Cellular, Molecular, and Biophysical Studies)
Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, 2003.
MD
Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, 2004.
Description of Clinical Expertise
Dr. Planet is a pediatric infectious disease specialist. Dr. Planet has specific areas of interest in antibiotic resistant infections (MRSA), respiratory infections, and chronic infections in patients with cystic fibrosis.Description of Other Expertise
Evolution of SARS-CoV-2Description of Research Expertise
Paul J. Planet MD, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. He is also a senior researcher at the American Museum of Natural History.Dr. Planet graduated from Yale University with a Bachelors degree in Anthropology and Molecular Biochemistry & Biophysics. He went on to earn his MD and PhD from Columbia University, where he also completed his residency and fellowship training at the Children’s Hospital of New York. His first faculty appointment was in the division of Pediatric Infectious Disease at Columbia University.
Dr. Planet’s research program focuses on the evolution and ecology of infectious disease. His current interests include the evolution and spread of antibiotic resistant strains, particularly community acquired MRSA, and the impact of the pulmonary microbiome in cystic fibrosis. Dr. Planet’s laboratory uses whole genome phylogenetics, high-throughput sequencing, and bioinformatics to generate hypotheses that are then tested with bench-based microbiology and molecular techniques.
Selected Publications
Strysko J, Hu W, Mochankana K, John-Thubuka J, Zankere T, Gopolang B, Theiller E, Jones SM, Tembo CV, Ntereke TD, Gatonye T, Lechiile K, Keatholetswe T, Bianco C, Coffin SE, McGann C, Bittinger K, Lautenbach E, Mannathoko N, Mokomane M, Mosepele M, Richard-Greenblatt M, Nakstad B, Goldfarb DM, Planet PJ, Moustafa AM. : Integrated epidemiologic investigation and genomic confirmation of a Klebsiella pneumoniae neonatal sepsis outbreak in Botswana. PLOS Glob Public Health June 2026 Notes: doi: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0006468.Odih EE, Abdulahi JA, Amulele AV, Bates M, Heinz E, Hu W, Jain K, Magobo R, Olwagen CP, Tembo JM, Sonda T, Strysko J, Tigoi CC, Bittinger K, Cornick J, Foster-Nyarko E, Gumbi W, Jones SM, Musyani CL, McGann CM, Moustafa AM, Musicha P, Mwansa JCL, Ndumba ML, Stanton TD, Omuoyo DO, Pearse O, Phillips LT, Planet PJ, Rodrigues CMC, Secka F, Sands K, Theiller E, Zuza AM, Basu S, Chan GJ, Iregbu KC, Mazarati JB, Alemayehu SS, Walsh TR, Zahra R, Dramowski A, Fwoloshi S, Labi AK, Madrid L, Obeng-Nkrumah N, Ojok D, Wadugu BD, Whitelaw AC, Bhargava A, Jindal A, Agarwal RK, Aiken AM, Berkley JA, Coffin SE, Feasey NA, Govender NP, Hamer DH, Madhi SA, Sankar MJ, Wyres KL, Holt KE.: Contribution of nosocomial transmission to Klebsiella pneumoniae neonatal sepsis in Africa and South Asia: a meta-analysis of infection clusters inferred from pathogen genomics and temporal data. PLoS Med May 2026 Notes: doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1005077.
St. Cyr G, Ray D, Planet PJ : Pyometrocolpos: A Case Series and Proposed Management Framework for the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Consultant. Pediatr Infect Dis J April 2026.
Dunham SJB, Willkeen GA, Darby B, Corley JM, Hahn A, Klapper I, Bean HD, Caverly LJ, Thornton CS, Martin C, Quinn RA, Widder S, Bailey BA, Wagner BD, Garg N, Planet PJ, Hunter RC, LiPuma JJ, Rohwer F, Whiteson KL: The Guild Model of CF Airway Microbial Ecology. MBio April 2026 Notes: doi: 10.1128/mbio.03668-25.
127. Theiller E, Rajagopol S, Higgins S, Torres DI, Napper T, Galis BE, Dash A, Qian E, Hamlette L, She Q, Tanes C, L'Etoile N, Feder A, Viana AS, Côrtes Esteves MA, Abt MC, Coffin SE, Hayes E, Potter RF, Zackular JP, Srinivasan L, Figueiredo AMS, Planet PJ, Moustafa AM.: Empowering global disease surveillance with CURED: a tool for rapid identification of unique genomic biomarkers. mSystems March 2026.
She Q, Srinivasan L, Theiller E, Galis BE, Napper T, Feder A, Arvanitis A, Jones SM, Hayes E, Puopolo KM, Baldassano RN, David MZ, Coffin SE, Gibbs KA, Potter RF, Smith KP, Harris RM, Zackular JP, Moustafa AM, Planet PJ: Rapid dissemination of Staphylococcus aureus in the neonatal intensive care unit is associated with invasive infection. Nat Commun February 2026 Notes: doi: 10.1038/s41467-026-69074-z.
Stanton TD, Keegan SP, Abdulahi JA, Amulele AV, Bates M, Heinz E, Hooda Y, Hu W, Jain K, Kanwar S, Magobo R, Olwagen CP, Tembo JM, Sonda T, Strysko J, Tigoi CC, Amin SA, Bittinger K, Cornick J, Foster-Nyarko E, Gumbi W, Hotwani A, Iqbal N, Jones SM, Kabir F, Khan W, Musyani CL, McGann CM, Mittal V, Moustafa AM, Musicha P, Mwansa JCL, Ndumba ML, Odih EE, Omuoyo DO, Pearse O, Phillips LT, Planet PJ, Rasool AA, Rodrigues CMC, Sands K, Tanmoy AM, Theiller E, Zuza AM, Basu S, Chan GJ, Iregbu KC, Mazarati JB, Alemayehu SS, Walsh TR, Zahra R, Dramowski A, Fwoloshi S, Labi AK, Madrid L, Obeng-Nkrumah N, Ojok D, Wadugu BD, Whitelaw AC, Bethou A, Bhargava A, Jindal A, Nanavati RN, Prasad PS, Sastry A, Farooqi JQ, Ghanchi N, Jehan F, Khan E, Agarwal RK, Aiken AM, Berkley JA, Coffin SE, Feasey NA, Govender NP, Hamer DH, Madhi SA, Nisar MI, Saha SK, Saha S, Sankar MJ, Wyres KL, Holt KE.: Distribution of capsule and O types in Klebsiella pneumoniae causing neonatal sepsis in Africa and South Asia: meta-analysis of genome-predicted serotype prevalence to inform potential vaccine coverage. PLoS Medicine 23(1), January 2026 Notes: DOI 10.1371/journal.pmed.1004879.
Strysko J, Thela T, Feder A, Thubuka J, Machiya T, Mkubwa J, Mochankana K, Tiroyakgosi C, Kgomanyane K, Ntereke TD, Zankere T, Lechiile K, Gatonye T, Tembo CV, Vurayai M, Mannathoko N, Mokomane M, Moustafa AM, Goldfarb DM, Richard-Greenblatt M, McGann C, Coffin SE, Nakstad B, Cancedda C, Lautenbach E, Bogoshi D, Smith AM, Planet PJ: Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii at a hospital in Botswana: detecting a protracted outbreak using whole genome sequencing. Microbiol Spectr January 2026 Notes: doi: 10.1128/spectrum.01768-25.
Sun Y, Hu B, Chhabra S, Tolentino J, Suzuki N, Natarajan J, Harris Z, Stanley G, Bianco C, Planet P, Sherchand SP, Adhikari R, Aman J, Zhang X, Koff J, Rajagopalan G.: Prevalence, Production and the Role of Staphylococcus aureus Superantigens in Cystic Fibrosis Lung Disease. J Cyst Fibros. 24(6): 1110-1113, Nov 2025.
Goryachok M, Fairbanks-Mahnke A, Fulte S, Tamkin E, McCarty A, Larson ED, Planet PJ, Clark SE: Functional CFTR may be required for Prevotella melaninogenica regulation of epithelial cell defense against Staphylococcus aureus. J Cyst Fibros November 2025 Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.jcf.2025.11.002.
© The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania | Site best viewed in a supported browser. | Site Design: PMACS Web Team.