Immunology and infection

Paul's work focuses on antigen presenting cells, with a particular emphasis on the temporal and tissue-specific changes that occur in the APC compartment during the progression of inflammatory and infectious disease. Although experimental models of visceral leishmaniasis provide the major context in which these studies are performed, the laboratory has more recently introduced other infectious and non-infectious models to complement and extend these studies. Ongoing projects span fundamental research into macrophage and dendritic cell development, heterogeneity and function, and translational projects aimed at taking this knowledge forward for the development of new therapeutic tools and vaccines.

Charles's group conducts phase 1 clinical trials of mucosal vaccines and microbicides against HIV-1. The group is funded by awards from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Wellcome Trust, the European Commission, and the NIH. As part of a Gates Grand Challenges award the group are conducting a phase 1 trial of a novel HIV vaginal vaccine utilising ZM96gp140, in conjunction with the Vaccine Institute, St George's, University of London.

Alan researches the biology, physiology and molecular biology of the human blood fluke Schistosoma, and the immune responses of the mammalian host that might be exploited as a vaccine. Over the last two decades his group has defined mechanisms of protective immunity in animal models of schistosomiasis. More recently, they have developed proteomic techniques to identify the surface-membrane or secreted (MS) proteins that might serve as targets of those protective responses. Alan is currently involved in annotation and analysis of the S. mansoni genome, and associated extensive transcript databases, using microarrays to identify stage-specific expression of key genes that might encode protective MS proteins and also to determine parasite responses to immune stress.

Mark's research interests include:

• stroma -- immune interactions in health and disease
• lymphoid organogenesis
• thymus development
• function of lymph node microenvironment
• engineering a network of artificial lymph nodes
• using human embryonic stem cells and induced pleuropotent stem cells to study the development and function of haematopoietic microenvironment

Marika's lab is interested in the immunology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and the mechanisms by which immune responses are initiated and regulated in the intestinal tract. Research areas include innate and adaptive immune responses to intestinal bacteria with special focus on Helicobacter. We are studying the pathogenic as well as the disease-protective arm of the immune response to Helicobacter with special emphasis on CD4 T cell responses. We are interested in understanding how bacterial antigen/dendritic cell/CD4 T cell interactions trigger inflammation in disease-susceptible individuals and suppress its induction in disease-resistant hosts

Among other areas, Adrian investigates the innate immune response induced by infective larvae of Schistosoma mansoni and how these drive the polarisation of the subsequent adaptive immune response and cause immunoregulation.

Chemokines and their receptors have emerged as essential modulators for the trafficking and activation of immune cells, in both homeostatic and inflammatory conditions. Nathalie's research aims to establish the role of chemokine receptors in regulating mononuclear phagocyte (monocytes, macrophages and dendritic cells) function during immune responses.

Deborah's laboratory works on kinetoplastid parasites that cause human disease in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. The principal focus is on Leishmania species, causative agents of human leishmaniasis, while Trypanosoma brucei, causative agent of African sleeping sickness, provides a model extracellular pathogen for genetic, cellular and biochemical studies. Using a range of experimental approaches (embracing bioinformatics, molecular and cell biology, biochemistry, structural biology and immunology), this research aims to understand how parasites invade and adapt to their hosts and to use this information in the development of new therapeutics for the diseases that they cause.

Marjan's lab is interested in determining what traits allow bacteria to be successful in their environment. An underlying premise is that to be successful the gene expression pattern needs to be optimal. Therefore we are interested in elucidating novel aspects of regulatory mechanisms and networks, and in studying bacterial populations. In this context, using a combination of classical genetics and molecular biology approaches, we study the role and molecular mechanisms of phase variatio. Furthermore we use genetics and advanced imaging to study behaviour of bacteria during biofilm formation and dispersal. Our studies focus on Gram-negative bacteria of the Enterbacteriaceae, specifically E. coli, Salmonella and Klebsiella spp.