Department of Microbiology and Immunology
Parasitology
Our Parasitology program includes a multidisciplinary malaria program studying the molecular and immunological mechanisms involved in the induced protective T cell responses against Plasmodium-infected hepatocytes (Drs. Azad and Sacci), vaccine development and testing (Drs. Levine and Sztein), and molecular epidemiology (Dr. Plowe).
 |
|
|
Because gene expression during the liver stage of parasite development remains incompletely understood, ongoing projects have been aimed at identifying stage-specific gene expression, through molecular approaches, and defining what role these gene products have in the biology of the parasite. Detailed studies are also underway to assess the role of specific antigens in protective immunity induced by irradiated sporozoites in the Plasmodium yoelii mouse model.
The Center for Vaccine Development group (Drs. Levine, Sztein and Plowe) has been studying sporozoite and blood-stage antigens as potential components of a malaria subunit vaccine using a Salmonella-delivery system. The program also has an extensive history of collaboration with scientists at the Laboratory of Parasitology at the NIH, Malaria Programs of The Naval Medical Research Institute (NMRI) and Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) as well as many universities in the U.S and overseas.
Our Parasitology program also includes vector biology and pathogenesis of vector borne pathogens. Over the past twenty years, we have seen worldwide emergence and resurgence of arthropod-borne pathogens such as West Nile, Lyme borreliosis, malaria, anaplasmoses, ehrlichioses, and typhus. The arthropod stage of pathogenic bacteria and protozoan parasites of human and domestic animals is a critical period where marked changes occur that will influence the transmission to and infectivity for the mammalian host. We are very interested in deciphering the molecular events underlying rickettsial activation within the tick vector where transmission would not occur unless a sustained rise in temperature resulted in the upregulation of virulence elements.
In addition, residency in invertebrate hosts, for some pathogens, is required for the maintenance of virulence. The relationships between these arthropods and their resident pathogens is being worked out at the molecular and cellular level focusing on the functional genomics at the arthropod-pathogen interface including the reciprocal signaling and gene expression of selected pathogens and their arthropod vectors.
Printer friendly
Email this page