The Immunobiology Section studies host resistance and immune regulation in parasitic and other infections of global importance. The ultimate goal of this work is immunologic disease intervention in the form of immunotherapy or vaccination. At the same time, our research on the host response to infection has provided basic insights into the effector functions and regulatory mechanisms used by the vertebrate immune system and in the role of innate pathogen recognition in these processes. Much of the work of the section is focused on the immunologic analysis in murine models of diseases induced by parasitic and bacterial agents (e.g., Toxoplasma gondii, Mycobacterium spp.), although the group is also engaged in several major clinical collaborations. Recent projects have focused on necrotic cell death pathways as targets for host directed therapy of M. tuberculosis (Mtb) and interactions of the microbiome with Mtb infection and treatment.
Cellular necrosis induced by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection. This process causes both tissue damage and dissemination of the pathogen and is thus an important target for therapeutic intervention. The image shown is an Mtb granuloma within the lung of an infected mouse. The green staining identifies the necrotic tissue core within the pulmonary matrix (violet). The red and blue staining cells are the bacteria and host macrophages, respectively. Using an inhibitor of a cell death mechanism known as ferroptosis we are able to markedly reduce the tissue necrosis observed.
Dr. Sher received his Ph.D. from the University of California, San Diego, and did his postdoctoral training in the Division of Parasitology at the National Institute for Medical Research in Mill Hill, London. In 1980, after several years as a research associate and then assistant professor in the department of pathology at Harvard Medical School, he joined NIAID as a section chief in the Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases (LPD). Sher became chief of LPD in 2003 and was promoted to NIH Distinguished Investigator in 2011. In June 2022, he closed his laboratory research program to focus primarily on mentoring activities.
Top Row: Edu Amaral, Diego Costa, Ranjani Namasivayam, Sanjay Gautam, Logan Fisher Middle Row: Gil Bundoc, Roberta Carter, Alan Sher, Kate Aberman, Kerry Hilligan, Oluwatoyin Adeleke
Bottom Row: Effie Reyes, Dragana Jankovic, Claire Conarroe
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