Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases Staff
Thomas Nutman, M.D., Chief
Alan Sher, Ph.D., Deputy Chief
The Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases (LPD) conducts basic and applied research on the prevention, control, and treatment of a variety of parasitic and bacterial diseases of global importance. The work of the group is largely directed toward the identification of immunological and molecular targets for disease intervention. The pathogens studied include parasitic protozoa (Leishmania, Toxoplasma, Giardia, Plasmodium, Trypanosoma cruzi, Cryptosporidium, and Entamoeba) and helminths (Filariae, Schistosoma, Strongyloides, and Taenia), as well as non-parasitic agents (e.g., mycobacteria).
LPD includes a clinical group that conducts patient-centered research at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, as well as international field studies in India, Latin America, and Africa. Four new programs focus on genetic determinants of virulence in apicomplexan protozoa, the function of the eosinophil in human infectious and inflammatory disease processes, the role of commensal microbiota in immune regulation and homeostasis, and T-cell regulation in mycobacterial and fungal opportunistic infections.
Major Areas of Research
- Uncovering basic aspects of the host-pathogen interaction in humans and experimental animal models, as well as in invertebrate vectors that transmit medically important parasites
- Regulatory environment induced in chronic parasitic and bacterial infection
- Identification of determinants of host resistance and pathology, with a focus on barrier sites
The Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases includes the following principal investigators, staff scientists, and/or staff clinicians:
- Daniel L. Barber, Ph.D.
T-Lymphocyte Biology Unit - Michael Grigg, Ph.D.
Molecular Parasitology Unit - Dragana Lj. Jankovic, Ph.D
Immunobiology Section - Paneez Khoury, M.D., M.H.Sc.
Human Eosinophil Section - Amy Klion, M.D.
Human Eosinophil Section
- Stephen H. Leppla, Ph.D.
Microbial Pathogenesis Section - Theodore Nash, M.D.
Clinical Parasitology Section - Thomas Nutman, M.D.
Helminth Immunology Section - David Sacks, Ph.D.
Intracellular Parasite Biology Section - Alan Sher, Ph.D.
Immunobiology Section
The Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases includes the following sections and units:
- Clinical Parasitology Section
Theodore Nash, M.D., Principal Investigator - Helminth Immunology Section
Thomas Nutman, M.D., Chief - Human Eosinophil Section
Amy Klion, M.D., Chief - Immunobiology Section
Alan Sher, Ph.D., Chief
- Intracellular Parasite Biology Section
David Sacks, Ph.D., Chief - Microbial Pathogenesis Section
Stephen H. Leppla, Ph.D., Chief - Molecular Parasitology Unit
Michael Grigg, Ph.D., Chief - T-Lymphocyte Biology Unit
Daniel L. Barber, Ph.D., Chief