Immunology and Vaccine Development

• George Dimopoulos and his group are targeting parasite/vector interactions, with a particular interest in mechanisms of the mosquito's immune system implicated in killing parasites.
  
  

• Rhoel Dinglasan’s laboratory is examining the feasibility of developing a mosquito-based malaria transmission blocking vaccine that can inhibit both P. falciparum and P. vivax invasion of anopheline mosquitoes. 

• A major focus in Nirbhay Kumar's laboratory is investigating molecular mechanisms involved in the differentiation and development of sexual stages of the parasite leading to mosquito infection and malaria transmission with the goal of developing a transmission-blocking vaccine.
   
• Fidel Zavala's  work is focused on the dual role of CD8+ T cells as anti-parasite effectors and regulators, using the Plasmodium yoelii system in mice. Understanding the nature of immune response to malaria infection will facilitate vaccine development.