Highlights
Dr. Chougnet's research program is focused on two basic problems: (1) Understanding the molecular pathogenesis of immunosuppression in HIV infection, with a focus on characterizing the molecular mechanisms underlying dysregulated expression of CD40 ligand (a molecule critical to antigen presenting cell/T cell interactions) and on the role of regulatory T cells in HIV infection; and (2) Understanding the ontogeny of immune responses in early life, and defects therein in the aged, with a special emphasis on antigen-presenting cell function.
The research program of Dr. Karp focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying cytokine-mediated dysregulation of cell mediated immune responses in human infectious and autoimmune diseases. Ongoing areas of study include: (a) the mechanisms underlying dysregulation of pulmonary inflammatory responses in cystic fibrosis; (b) the molecular mechanisms underlying IL-12 regulation and dysregulation; (c) Ebola virus pathogenesis and therapy; (d) the molecular mechanisms of control of Toll-like receptor-driven signaling pathways; and (e) regulatory T cell immunogenetics. A recent highlight of this work was the delineation of a novel inhibitor of TLR4 signaling: RP105.
The research program of Dr. Köhl focuses on the cross-talk between different arms of the innate immune system, and its impact on adaptive immunity. In particular, the lab is interested in understanding the mechanisms underlying the cross-talk between receptors for complement cleavage products C3a and C5a, IgG Fc receptors, and Toll-like receptors. Recent data obtained from this work demonstrate that the cross-talk between such pathways is of critical importance in the pathogenesis of immune complex disease, allergic asthma and infection with intracellular pathogens. Further, the research program of Dr. Köhl includes studies aimed defining the role of the C5a receptor as a drug target in kidney transplantation using a C5a receptor antagonist that has been developed in Dr. Köhl's laboratory.
