Our research revolves around understanding how hosts and parasites interact with each other; this includes an interest in the immune response of hosts to parasites as well as adaptations of parasites that facilitate their survival, growth, reproduction, virulence and transmission.
We apply a variety of techniques in biochemistry and proteomics, molecular biology and recombinant protein expression, cell culture, immunofluorescence microscopy, immunology and vaccinology.
Ultimately, our research is directed at discovery of innovative ways to control parasitic diseases and we currently focus on two main programs of research devoted to the apicomplexan parasite, Toxoplasma gondii: (1) understanding how innate and inflammatory immune responses are initiated and regulated so that we can design interventions to control disease in immunosuppressed individuals; and (2) using transcriptomics and CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing to discover and develop vaccines to prevent transmission of Toxoplasma gondii from its definitive host, the cat, to humans and livestock.