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
People
The Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases includes the following principal investigators, staff scientists, and/or staff clinicians:
- Daniel L. Barber, Ph.D.
T-Lymphocyte Biology Section - Sasisekhar Bennuru, Ph.D.
Helminth Immunology Section - Pedro H. Gazzinelli Guimaraes
Helminth Immunology Section - Elodie Ghedin, Ph.D.
Systems Genomics Section - Michael Grigg, Ph.D.
Molecular Parasitology Section - Dragana Lj. Jankovic, Ph.D
- Immunobiology Section
- Paneez Khoury, M.D., M.H.Sc.
Human Eosinophil Section - Amy Klion, M.D.
Human Eosinophil Section - Sang Hun Lee, Ph.D.
Intracellular Parasite Biology Section
- Stephen H. Leppla, Ph.D.
Microbial Pathogenesis Section - P’ng Loke, Ph.D.
Type 2 Immunity Section - Mahtab Moayeri, Ph.D.
Microbial Pathogenesis Section - Thomas Nutman, M.D.
Helminth Immunology Section - Elise M. O'Connell, M.D.
Helminth Immunology Section - David Sacks, Ph.D.
Intracellular Parasite Biology Section - Shunsuke Sakai, Ph.D.
T-Lymphocyte Biology Section - Alan Sher, Ph.D.
Immunobiology Section - Denis Voronin, Ph.D.
Systems Genomics Section
Sections and Units
The Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases includes the following sections and units:
- Helminth Immunology Section
Thomas Nutman, M.D., Chief - Human Eosinophil Section
Amy Klion, M.D., Chief - Immunobiology Section
Alan Sher, Ph.D., Chief - Type 2 Immunity Section
P’ng Loke, Ph.D. - Intracellular Parasite Biology Section
David Sacks, Ph.D., Chief
- Microbial Pathogenesis Section
Stephen H. Leppla, Ph.D., Chief - Molecular Parasitology Section
Michael Grigg, Ph.D., Chief - Systems Genomics Section
Elodie Ghedin, Ph.D., Chief - T-Lymphocyte Biology Section
Daniel L. Barber, Ph.D., Chief