Scholarly Interest:
Research
focuses on methods to improve vaccine efficacy in livestock and humans.
Studies are primarily directed at optimizing in vivo antigen presentation
by dendritic cells following immunization using DNA and live vaccines.
Studies are also directed at evaluating defined dendritic cell activation
factors for their potency in enhancing vaccine immunogenicity in an
outbred species model. Strategies for induction and maintenance of memory
cellular immune responses in outbred species are also being evaluated.
In addition, studies are directed at defining key molecular processes
involved in the development and regulation of innate immunity and the
influence of these processes on the development of adaptive immune response.
Interaction between dendritic cells and food animal pathogens, especially
zoonotic, is an area under development and is expected to define correlates
of protection needed for vaccine design.
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