The battle between pathogens and the host immune defenses has raged for thousands of years. The immune system has developed a variety of approaches to controlling viral and bacterial infection, which range from the direct killing of pathogens to elaborating cytokines that inhibit replication. Pathogens have been countered by developing a variety of immune evasion mechanisms that inhibit cytokine function and prevent immune recognition of infected cells. Faculty and student efforts to define and characterize these opposing mechanisms will undoubtedly lead to improved treatment of infectious diseases ranging from AIDS and parasitic infections to sexually transmitted diseases and the common cold.
Participating Faculty and Labs
John Alcorn, Ph.D.
T cell immunity, host defense, epithelial cell biology, and lung physiology; Immunologic mechanisms of severe and steroid insensitive asthma
Simon Barratt-Boyes, B.V.Sc., Ph.D.
Development of a preventative vaccine and immunotherapy against HIV infection
Sarah Gaffen, Ph.D.
Defining innate and adaptive immunity to fungal infections caused by Candida albicans and related species.
JoAnne L. Flynn, Ph.D.
Immunology and pathogenesis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
William B. Klimstra, Ph.D.
Animal models of arbovirus infection; rational vaccine design and immune responses to vaccines; role of innate immune responses in controlling arbovirus disease
Doug Reed, Ph.D.
Host-pathogen interactions in severe respiratory disease triggered by avian influenza viruses; efficacy of potential interventions (e.g., vaccines, mabs) against respiratory challenge in animal models.
Saumendra N. Sarkar, Ph.D.
Innate Immunity; signaling process involved in cytokine production after virus infection; develop modulators for signaling pathways
Anthony St. Leger, Ph.D.
Viral immunology; T-cell activation and function