Immunology

Investigators of this laboratory are involved in immunological studies on infectious diseases and nutritional studies relating to micronutrient deficiency to understand its effect on the immune status of infants and children and their growth and development. Protection from infections is targeted by developing vaccines and inexpensive and novel alternative strategies that can be implemented in Bangladesh.

The sphere of interest includes pathogens from non-invasive to intracellular invasive ones for a better understanding of the immunological components leading to pathogenesis or protection. The major interest at present includes research on diseases caused by Shigella spp., V. cholerae, V. parahaemolyticus, enterotoxigenic E. coli, S. enterica serovar Typhi, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and H. pylori. Immunodiagnostic tools are being developed both to detect pathogens and to determine infections in symptomatically- and asymptomatically-infected individuals. Efforts are being made to better determine immune correlates of protection that can be tested in vaccinology.

The effect of malnutrition, including that of zinc, iron, and vitamin A deficiency, and low birth-weight on the prognosis of infectious diseases and on the immune status of infants and children are also being investigated. The relationship of different environmental factors on innate and active immunity is being evaluated to provide interesting insights not only into natural infections but also into vaccine efficacy.

The Laboratory is continuously developing and updating research skills and techniques so that the state-of-art quality of work is maintained. Eight funded protocols are ongoing with a few more in the pipeline. Active collaborations with lab scientists, including those in Sweden, USA, Japan, France, and Germany, have helped keep the Laboratory abreast of new developments. In addition, junior researchers are undertaking training in different laboratories worldwide which will further strengthen the existing capabilities.

Staff