Host-Pathogen Interactions

Research Interests: The Urbano Lab studies microbial-host interactions that involve the actin cytoskeleton. Immune signals such as IFN-g activate host cells to fight infection by stimulating expression of cellular defenses that include actin-binding proteins (ABPs). Our lab aims to characterize the functions of these ABPs in the context of the immune response and learn how actin-based immunity impacts microbial pathogenesis and pathogen clearance. One area of active research involves the role of ABPs in microbial actin-based motility and cell-to-cell dissemination (Listeria, Shigella, Burkholderia, etc.). Additionally, ABPs are important components of the host cell adhesion and motility machinery. Here we aim to understand how immune activation modifies the mechanical properties of cells to mobilize to sites of infection, capture and eliminate microbes.

Research Interests: The Brostoff laboratory develops novel diagnostic tests and vaccines and uses these tools both for clinical application as well as to better study host immune responses to disease. The disease models we are currently studying include feline coronavirus and canine osteosarcoma. We are currently using Raman spectroscopy and machine learning as a platform for novel high-throughput diagnostic test development.

Research Interests: The Savage lab studies interactions between pathogens, the microbiota, and host. In particular, I currently focus on how the microbiota promotes a heathy colonocyte immunometabolism and how this interaction is altered during disease, putting the host at risk of infection with pathogens and pathobionts. My overall research goal is to understand the basis behind these host-microbiota interactions during health so that host health can be supported with therapeutics during microbial disruption to prevent a loss of colonization resistance.

Research Interest: Research in the Coffey laboratory focuses on the evolution, transmission dynamics, and disease for pathogenic mosquito-borne viruses to understand: (i) patterns of molecular evolution, (ii) viral genetic factors that promote epidemics, (iii) how intrahost genetic diversity generated by error-prone viral replication influences pathogenesis and transmissibility, and (iv) surveillance and vaccine approaches to improve detection and minimize disease.

Research Interests: The Tan Lab engineers synthetic cells and vesicles for broad biomedical applications, including antibacterial therapy, anticancer treatment, and regenerative medicine. We integrate synthetic genes, proteins, and materials to create new kinds of synthetic cells and vesicles with superior functions to their natural counterparts.

Research Interests: The Winter lab studies the chemical biology of host-microbe interactions, with a focus on gastrointestinal inflammatory diseases, such as enteric infections, inflammatory bowel disease, and colitis-associated colorectal cancer. The lab is investigating how the immune system shapes the metabolism of the gut microbiota, and vice versa. A better understanding of host-microbiota interactions is expected to aid in the development of novel, microbiota-targeting intervention strategies for inflammatory diseases.

Research Interests: My research is focused on immunological hurdles in regenerative medicine. Specifically, my lab has determined that some cells may not be immunoprivileged, as previously prescribed by a well-accepted dogma. Hence, my team is assessing the relevance of MHC-I matching in stem cell therapy and musculoskeletal transplantation.

Research Interests: Dr. McElroy has a long-standing interest in understanding the injury and repair mechanisms of the developing small intestine, specifically how these relate to neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis. His laboratory has made seminal discoveries linking Paneth cells and goblet cells to the protection of the immature intestinal tract, has developed novel complementary models of necrotizing enterocolitis that shed light on pathways to develop the disease, has investigated the link between maternal chorioamnionitis and subsequent intestinal disease in offspring, and is now looking at the link between total body sodium and neonatal sepsis. Dr. McElroy has received funding from the NIH, the Children’s Miracle Network, and industry partners.

Research Interests: The Tan Lab engineers synthetic cells and vesicles for broad biomedical applications, including antibacterial therapy, anticancer treatment, and regenerative medicine. We integrate synthetic genes, proteins, and materials to create new kinds of synthetic cells and vesicles with superior functions to their natural counterparts.

Research Interests: The Tsolis lab utilizes intracellular bacteria, particularly Salmonella, Brucella, and more recently Chlamydia, to study functioning of the host innate immune system as well as how microbial communities at mucosal surfaces protect against infection. One question the lab has been addressing is how host phagocytes detect subversion of their physiology by injected virulence factors of intracellular pathogens, which led to discovery of a new function for NOD1 and NOD2 in sensing endoplasmic reticulum stress induced by Chlamydia and Brucella. The lab’s work on Salmonella has advanced our understanding of how underlying comorbidities prevalent in the developing world, such as malaria and malnutrition, compromise phagocyte functions required for containment of infection to the gastrointestinal tract, thereby increasing susceptibility to disseminated infection. Most recently the lab has focused on animal modeling to generate a model to study typhoid fever, an infection that is strictly restricted to humans.