What we do
We leverage the unique biology of pathogens such as viruses and helminths as tools to probe the fundamental mechanisms underlying the development of immunity. Central to our research is an innovative experimental system that models microbial coinfections, enabling us to dissect mechanisms of immunomodulation and identify key determinants of pathogenesis. Our ultimate goal is to translate these mechanistic insights into novel therapeutic strategies, improve vaccine development and to harness the immunomodulatory properties of microbes to improve human health.
Current areas of research
1. Understanding immune dysregulation during polymicrobial infection
We explore why protective immune responses collapse during polymicrobial infection and transition into life-threatening immune failure. By integrating non-traditional coinfection models with systems-level immune analysis, this work seeks to define mechanisms that irreversibly reprogram immune cells and drive systemic inflammation.
2. Dendritic Cell-Mediated Regulation of Immune Responses to Viral Pathogens and Vaccines
We decipher the molecular signals by which dendritic cells interpret pathogen-derived cues to orchestrate adaptive immunity, focusing on the regulation of T cell responses that balance protection and pathology.
3. Mechanisms of Intestinal Helminth-Mediated Modulation of Antiviral and Vaccine-Induced Immunity
We explore how intestinal helminth parasites impair antiviral defenses and suppress immune responses elicited by vaccination, aiming to elucidate the cellular and molecular pathways involved in this immunomodulation.
