WHO WE ARE

We are a comparative immunology lab at George Washington University in the Department of Biological Sciences. Our lab studies the immune system through the lens of the model amphibian Xenopus laevis​. Our overarching goals are to define the evolutionary and functional relationships between the amphibian and our own immune systems.

Immune cell functions

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 use these cell types in the context of inflammation and tolerance.

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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. 

Scarless wound healing

Frogs have the ability to scarlessly regenerate skin wounds in a manner that depreciates with age. We are comparing this process to that of mammalian scarred wound healing and characterizing the functions of key immune cells involved in this process.