People who work in Immunology and Infectious Diseases

Signal transduction pathways that regulate immune function; in particular, role of Tec family tyrosine kinases in T cells and mast cells. How manipulation of these signals affect immune response in diseases such as allergic asthma.

Outbreak and persistence of infectious disease (ecological statistics, population dynamics, species interactions, spatial dynamics, ecology of infectious disease).

Cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying stress-induced, neuroendocrine-mediated modulation of the immune response to herpes simplex virus infections.

Vitamin D regulation of autoimmunity, especially inflammatory bowel diseases. Molecular and cellular regulation of host immunity, and regulation by nutrients.

Molecular analysis of papillomavirus immunity.

Rhinitis and its effects on sleep and daytime somnolence; allergic rhinitis and asthma.

Insect biochemistry and molecular biology; molecular parasitology; medical entomology; host-parasite/pathogen interactions.

Mechanisms of environmental survival and virulence of pathogens associated with foodborne disease.

Investigating the pathogenic behavior of JC virus, especially in immunosuppressed individuals.

Mechanisms of cellular injury in the retina which lead to retinopathy, especially factors that change tight junction protein expression. Changes in the neural retina in diabetes.

Molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways that regulate progression of squamous tumors from a benign to malignant phenotype.

Understanding the structures and interactions between malaria parasites and human glycoconjugates that lead to malaria pathogenesis.

Murine Stk receptor tyrosine kinase and its function in macrophage regulation and inflammation and in leukemic development.

Interactions between bacterial pathogens and host immunology.

Viral pathogenesis focusing on the interactions between paramyxoviruses and hosts. Development of antiviral drugs and virus vectors, for vaccine development and gene therapy.

Explores nanoscience and nanotechnology at the interface of physics, materials, engineering and biology.

Wildlife disease ecology: the transmission and dynamics of parasites in wild animals, with particular emphasis on zoonotic infections and parasite community structure.

The pathogenesis of infectious disease: examining bacterial virulence and associated pathology in relation to host immune responses.

Breast cancer and the immune system; the effects of exercise on the immune system.

The role of macrophages and dendritic cells in antigen presentation, antiviral immunity and in chronic inflammation during diabetes.

Fertility and reproductive immunology in domestic farm animals. Improving diagnosis of infertility and viral infections.

Roles of host genes in restricting infection by Friend erythroleukemia virus.

Surfactant regulation of lung immune cell function.

Molecular mechanisms of virus and host adaptation at scales that span protein and structure to population dynamics.

Regulation of immune function by oxidative stress and antioxidants, including selenium. Regulation of HIV transcription by selenium.

Evolutionary ecology of host-parasite interactions, particularly virulence, infectiousness, vaccine-driven evolution, and drug and insecticide resistance.

Vitamin A metabolism; hepatic retinoid function and gene expression; vitamin A in infection and immunity.

Mechanisms of Epstein-Barr virus persistence and tumorigenesis.

Cellular immune responses in the control of cancer. Investigation of CD8+ T lymphocyte response in unique tumor environments to define immunotherapeutic approaches to cancer.

Molecular mechanisms responsible for recognition by macrophages of phosphatidylserine on apoptotic cell surfaces.

The process of paramyxovirus particle formation by budding: identifying and characterizing viral proteins used in budding, and learning how these manipulate host budding machinery to allow virus release.

Virus-host interactions in the pathogenesis of viral infection.

Neuro-endocrine modulation of dendritic cell function (maturation, antigen presentation, cytokine production, migration) in the initial steps of T cell-mediated anti-viral/tumor immunity.

Development and function of gamma/delta T cells, a class of immune cells with various roles in microbial immunity, inflammation regulation and tumor surveillance.

Graduate program admissions, applicant questions, student visas, course registration, drop/add, grade changes, Candidacy and Comprehensive Exam paperwork.

Contact regarding admissions to this graduate program, and professional development opportunities for students.

Contact regarding comprehensive exams and thesis defenses for Hershey-based students in the Immunology and Infectious Diseases graduate program.