Immune cell ontogeny

Granulocytes and macrophages are the purveyors of the immune system and are the first to respond to injury and infection. We are studying how amphibians generate these cell types and their roles in health and disease.

---

Pathogens

Vertebrate species encounter many different types of pathogens. We are interested in how amphibian immune systems have co-evolved to deal with different types of infectious agents. 

Immune interactions 

The immune response is a highly coordinated process, involving many tissues and cell types. We adopt comprehensive approaches to inquire into the relationships between  frog immune cell populations and the pathogens  that challenge them, in the context of the amphibian physiology.