Faculty of Infectious Diseases

Research goal is directed toward determining the molecular basis for the interaction between a bacterium and its plant or animal host. Research focuses on the determining the structural features of the bacterial cell surface carbohydrates that are important in the infection process, and to identify the function(s) of those structural features in the infection of, and survival within, the host cell.

Many diseases are vectored by blood-feeding arthropods, which modify the conditions of pathogen transmission as a result of antihemostatic and immunomodulatory activities in their saliva. Seek to characterize these activities and the specific components involved, with the ultimate goal of developing novel strategies for interrupting disease transmission.

Laboratory works on the immunology of human schistosomiasis, primarily in relationship to immune mechanisms of resistance to reinfection and to a lesser extent in regard to immune mechanisms related to subtle and severe morbidity due to this worm infection of 200 million people. Is also developing and will direct a new effort, the Schistosomiasis Consortium for Operational Research and Evaluation (SCORE) in support of schistosomiasis control programs.

Major advances have been made in the formulation technology at the Nanotechnology Laboratory at the Center for Cancer Research at Mercer, allowing production of nanospheres using the spray drying methodology in a single step aseptic process. Have formulated and tested several oral vaccines, such as oral melanoma, oral TB, oral typhoid vaccines and have obtained excellent immunizations with these novel vaccines and are currently testing oral influenza, oral breast and prostate cancer vaccines.

Studies the immune response of bony fishes (teleosts) using the common protozoan parasite Ichthyophthirius multifiliis as a model system. Laboratory utilizes molecular genetic and biological approaches to study the expression and function of parasite and host genes that are relevant to infection and immunity.

Laboratory studies how environmental cues influence cell behavior in animals. The main focus is to understand how extracellular signals influence cell fate decisions during embryogenesis, using zebrafish as a model system. Also interested in how differentiated cells respond to their environment. Toward that end, has established collaborations with laboratorties in the School of Veterinary Medicine to establish zebrafish as a model for studying infectious diseases.

Comparative immunology studies at both cellular and molecular levels with particular emphasis on mechanisms of innate immunity. Model systems include teleost homologues of mammalian NK cells and pattern recognition receptors.

Research focuses on T-cell and B-cell responses in bony fish to infection by the protozoan parasite Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, a common, wide-spread pathogen of fish. Molecular genetic and biological approaches are used to study the expression and function of parasite and host genes.

Major focus is to determine the mechanisms by which viruses invade the nervous system and cause neurological diseases. In the meantime, also develops strategies to combat virus infection with vaccines and anti-viral agents.

The main aspects of research in laboratory are to improve the diagnosis and control of infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV) and avian influenza. In particular, interested in identifying ILTV proteins involve in viral pathogenicity, spread, persistence and design of marker vaccines. The development of new serological assays that allow to monitor and detect influenza infected flocks in the presence of vaccination and to determine the survivability of both viruses in poultry litter and in the poultry house environment in order to improve biosecurity as part of the control of these diseases of poultry.

Primary research interests are infections caused by Rhodococcus equi in foals and pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics of antimicrobial agents in horses.

Research in the Hajduk laboratory is focused on the molecular biology and biochemistry of African trypanosomes. Ongoing studies address the mechanism and function of RNA editing and the role of human innate immunity in controlling parasite infection.

Use mathematical and computational approaches to investigate infectious disease dynamics on both the within-host and between-host levels.

Laboratory employs bioinformatics and receptor cross-talk analysis to examine how parasite expressed molecules induce anti-inflammatory signaling and maturation in antigen presenting cells. Also working on vaccines for schistosomiasis, including field testing of the vaccines in China.

Interested in virus and host interactions focusing on the roles of host proteins in replication of paramyxoviruses mumps virus and parainfluenza virus 5. Actively pursuing novel strategies for vaccine development and anti-viral drugs.

Research is focused on understanding the biology and pathogenesis of virus infections with the goal of improving animal and human health.

Primary research interests lie in the areas of bacterial mechanisms of virulence and vaccine development. All studies in the lab are done with an eye toward translating the findings of basic research into potential therapeutic intervention strategies.

Research focuses on the mechanisms of innate immunity against bacterial, viral parasitic and tumor antigens. Specifically study the pathways of activation of NK cells that are initiated upon contact with infectious insult and the effector molecules produced by NK cells in response to their activation.

Modeling, simulation and analysis of biological and ecological systems; investigating universal properties of these systems; and on mathematical and computational solutions to questions of interest, such as control, impact, spread and evolution.

Laboratory is interested in how immunological memory develops and is maintained after infection. In particular, they study the cellular cues instructing CD8 memory cell trafficking and homeostasis in non-lymphoid tissues, the sites of initial pathogen encounter.

Research program consists of identifying and characterizing surface antigens that are expressed by the gram negative bacteria Moraxella catarrhalis, Burkholderia pseudomallei, and Burkholderia mallei, with emphasis on molecules functioning as adherence factors.

Research in laboratory focuses on defining immunoprotective and immunopathogenic mechanisms in malarial infection during pregnancy. Conduct human studies in malaria-endemic western Kenya and also use mouse models and a cell culture system to characterize the maternal-fetal interaction during infection.

Research focuses on viral diseases that are important to the poultry industry. Research objectives are: 1.) development of poultry vaccines and species independent diagnostic assays, 2.) increasing knowledge about interactions of cellular proteins with viral replication machinery, and 3.) analysis of determinants that characterize the antigenic makeup of viruses.

Involved primarily with RSV and influenza-related clinical research projects. Research has been involved in addressing public health-related issues, especially vaccines, infections in child care, various RSV-related projects, and unusual/unique microbiology/infectious disease-related cases.

Research focuses primarily on understanding the pathogenesis of tuberculosis and related mycobacterial diseases although a new program examining the virulence mechanisms and survival strategies of Francisella tularensis has been rapidly developing. Current collaborative international activities include tuberculosis diagnostic test development in Mexico and Buruli ulcer pathogenesis studies in Ghana.

Uses structural biology to answer key questions about protein structure-function relationships aimed at better understanding molecular mechanisms of enzymatic reactions and other cellular processes. Keenly interested in understanding the structural features of larger multiprotein complexes in terms of mechanism allosterics and signal transduction.

Laboratory studies the mechanisms used by pathogens to modulate the innate immune system in the search for therapeutics that can outwit these maneuvers. Focus is primarily on infections of macrophages, in particular, mycobacterial infections.

Laboratory investigates the innate host-response from viral (highly pathogenic avian influenza) and fungal (Aspergillus fumigatus) pathogens in several of veterinary models of disease. Characterizing the host-pathogen interaction at different anatomical sites is paramount to understand disease pathogenesis and the development of vaccines.

The Tarleton laboratory focuses on immunity to the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease. In addition to interests in the generation of specificity of T cell responses to T. cruzi, and the discovery of diagnostics and vaccines for this infection, the lab is involved in proteomic, transcriptomic and genomic analysis of this parasite and maintains a field project in Argentina dealing with human Chagas disease.

Laboratory focuses on the interface of influenza viruses with human and domesticated animal populations. Studies involve the ability of influenza to cross species barriers, how the virus evolves to enable cross-species transmission and intervention strategies to address influenza-related disease; including novel detection and phenotyping technologies, vaccines, and therapeutics.

Research interest is to develop translational disease intervention strategies for important human viruses and emerging infectious diseases of zoonotic origin. Investigate the mechanisms of immunity and disease pathogenesis associated with infection to better understand the conceptual and functional differences between innate and adaptive immune responses that provide the foundation necessary to facilitate vaccine and antiviral therapeutic protocols. The laboratories leverage the talents of academic, government and industry partners to promote ‘bench-to-bedside’ and ‘bench-to-barnyard’ vaccines and therapeutics.

Research focuses on how cytokine signaling via Stat transcription factors contributes to host defense and autoimmunity.

Particularly interested in the 3D structure of polysaccharides and lipids from pathogenic bacteria and in the properties that may be exploited in the design of carbohydrate-based vaccines. Employ a number of biophysical techniques, including computational simulation, x-ray diffraction and mass spectrometry.