Our lab is interested in characterizing the complexity of Host-Microbe relationships and the genetic network that governs the host response to microbes, and the microbial response to the host. We focus on trying to integrate mechanisms classically associated with the immune response per se with tissue repair mechanisms and physiological changes in the host. For that purpose, we have built three axes of research:
- We study the immune, physiological and bacterial characteristics that determine the outcome of infection. We have developed models of sepsis. Despite the large body of research on innate immune processes, we have surprisingly little insight into how the dynamic interaction between pathogens and the host translates into dramatically divergent health outcomes. We apply genetic and genomic experiments to bacterial infection of the model organism Drosophila melanogaster to elucidate the dynamics of host-microbe interaction during sepsis. We study both immune effector mechanisms, immune regulatory mechanisms, as well as the role of metabolic adaptation and tissue repair.
- We characterize the host mechanisms that control the activity of intestinal stem cells and therefore intestinal homeostasis in response to both infectious and resident microbes as well as nutrients. Our work integrates stem cell biology, immunology and microbiology together, providing a framework to understand how pathologies of gut origin can arise. Finally, we aim to characterize the spatial complexity of the gastro-intestinal system, how gut regions are established and maintained, and how regional variations in intestinal physiology are relevant to health and disease. We emphasize coupling between functional genetics, cell biology, omics and systems-level approaches (computation and theory) and use the fruit fly as our main model system.
- We study the role of stem cell mediated tissue repair in response to pathogenic infection in the insect vector Aedes aegypti. We are developing tools and methods to study epithelial dynamics in the mosquito midgut. We focus on the role of tissue repair mechanism in mosquitos’ ability to survive infection with bacteria, parasites, and viruses.
Our three major areas of research are:
- We study the immune, physiological and bacterial characteristics that determine the outcome of infection. We have developed models of sepsis. Despite the large body of research on innate immune processes, we have surprisingly little insight into how the dynamic interaction between pathogens and the host translates into dramatically divergent health outcomes. We apply genetic and genomic experiments to bacterial infection of the model organism Drosophila melanogaster to elucidate the dynamics of host-microbe interaction during sepsis. We study both immune effector mechanisms, immune regulatory mechanisms, as well as the role of metabolic adaptation and tissue repair.
- We characterize the host mechanisms that control the activity of intestinal stem cells and therefore intestinal homeostasis in response to both infectious and resident microbes as well as nutrients. Our work integrates stem cell biology, immunology and microbiology together, providing a framework to understand how pathologies of gut origin can arise. Finally, we aim to characterize the spatial complexity of the gastro-intestinal system, how gut regions are established and maintained, and how regional variations in intestinal physiology are relevant to health and disease. We emphasize coupling between functional genetics, cell biology, omics and systems-level approaches (computation and theory) and use the fruit fly as our main model system.
- We study the role of stem cell mediated tissue repair in response to pathogenic infection in the insect vector Aedes aegypti. We are developing tools and methods to study epithelial dynamics in the mosquito midgut. We focus on the role of tissue repair mechanism in mosquitos’ ability to survive infection with bacteria, parasites, and viruses.
Our three major areas of research are:
I -Host-Microbe interactions and innate immunity
a- microbial pathogenesis, infectious damage and tissue repair
b- immune effector mechanisms and quantitative control of the immune response
c- the immune response of insect pests to biocontrol agents
b- immune effector mechanisms and quantitative control of the immune response
c- the immune response of insect pests to biocontrol agents
II - Gut homeostasis and intestinal stem cells in health and disease
a- Regulation of Intestinal Stem Cells by microbes
b- Intestinal regionalization in health and disease
c- Systems level analysis of intestinal homeostasis
b- Intestinal regionalization in health and disease
c- Systems level analysis of intestinal homeostasis
III - Epithelial dynamics and tissue repair in the mosquito midgut
a- Immunity and tolerance mechanisms that the mosquito employs in its interaction with ingested pathogens
b- Gut epithelial repair mechanisms and their impact on mosquito survival following pathogenic invasion
Does stem cell mediated tissue repair contribute to mosquito survival to infection?
c- Manipulating intestinal stem cell activity to study gut cell lineage in the mosquito midgut epithelium
- What are the functions of immune and stress responsive pathways (JNK, JAK-STAT, Toll, Imd) in the mosquito midgut?
b- Gut epithelial repair mechanisms and their impact on mosquito survival following pathogenic invasion
Does stem cell mediated tissue repair contribute to mosquito survival to infection?
- Does stem cell mediated tissue repair contribute to mosquito survival to infection?
c- Manipulating intestinal stem cell activity to study gut cell lineage in the mosquito midgut epithelium
- What controls intestinal stem cell activity in the mosquito midgut? What cells are replaced, and with what dynamics?