Department of Microbiology and Immunology

Immunology

Drs. Medvedev and Chen and J. Schoenfelt, BS

The immune system protects against infectious pathogens, fights malignant tumors and contributes to wound healing and tissue repair. Consequently, immunology is a multidisciplinary area where research frequently overlaps with microbiology, tumorbiology, molecular and cell biology. Major research interest in immunology at our Department include the following areas:

Innate immune responses mediated by macrophages and other, non-lymphoid cell types. These cells typically utilize specific, pathogen-associated pattern recognition receptors, such as the Toll-like receptors (S. Vogel, A. Medvedev) to induce inflammation. While inflammation helps eliminate infectious pathogens, the associated tissue damage can cause serious complications in many tissues, including the lung (Dr. Jeff Hasday and Dr. Sergei Atamas, Mucosal Biology Center).

Crystal structure of the novel IgNAR V region which was first isolated from nurse sharks. (Picture by Dr. Louis Du Pasquier & Dr. Helen Dooley.)

The adaptive immune system uses diverse antigen receptors, encoded in the immunoglobulin (Ig) and T-cell receptor (TCR) genes, that undergo somatic recombination and, in case of Ig genes, hypermutation during lymphocyte development and activation (F. Livak, J. Cerny). CD4-T-cells orchestrate both cellular and humoral responses (D. Farber), whereas CD8-T-cells mediate cytotoxic responses, including organ transplant rejection (G. Hadley). Lymphocyte activation and trafficking are guided by soluble cytokines (A. Keegan) and chemokines (R. Kamin-Lewis, IHV). Upon elimination of the pathogen, most specific lymphocytes undergo programmed cell death (W. Davidson, G. Carey). Defects in the selection and homeostatic regulation of lymphocytes frequently result in autoimmunity (K. Moudgil) that may be managed by therapeutic induction of tolerance (D. Scott, Center for Vascular and Inflammatory Diseases). Studies of the evolutionary history of the immune system in lower vertebrates such as frogs and sharks (National Aquarium in Baltimore) can not only provide new insights into immunogenetics (Y. Ota), but also offer new reagents for biodefense and diagnostic applications (M. Flajnik).

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