Immunology laboratory

Immunological studies concentrate on infectious diseases and nutritional studies relating to micronutrient deficiencies to understand their effect on the immune status of infants and children and their growth and development. The development of vaccines and inexpensive and novel alternative strategies that can be implemented in Bangladesh is the ultimate goal of the research.

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 research interests currently include 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 through vaccine research.

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.