We study how pattern recognition receptors (PRR) are involved in sensing pathogen- and host-derived molecular patterns to induce inflammation and maintain homeostasis. 

Research Projects

PRRs sense pathogen/damage-associated molecular patterns to protect and maintain cellular homeostasis. Nod like receptors (NLRs), a family of cytoplasmic sensors, recognize pathogen/damage-associated molecules within the cell. Several studies including ours have shown that these NLRs play a central role, not only in viral, bacterial and parasitic infections but also in autoinflammatory and autoimmune diseases. The research goals of our lab are to investigate how these NLRs regulate innate and adaptive immune responses in the context of infections (Leishmania major, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus), damage (LPS-induced shock, radiation-induced toxicity, DSS-induced colitis) and autoinflammation (mouse model of neutrophilic dermatosis).