Immunology of acute COVID and vaccine responses
When SARS-CoV-2 began to emerge, researchers and medical professionals have scrambled to piece together the evolving immunopathology of the virus behind what is now a global health pandemic.
Research Interests
Research Summary
In the Iwasaki Laboratory, we focus on understanding how viruses infect the host through the mucosal surfaces to cause diseases, how the immune system deals with viral infections within these local tissues, how acute infections lead to long-term diseases, and to use such insights to design vaccines and therapeutics against acute & chronic viral diseases, post-viral diseases, autoimmunity, and cancer. We study immune responses to a variety of viruses including herpes simplex viruses, Zika virus, influenza viruses, rhinoviruses, and retroviruses - with the most recent focus on SARS-CoV-2. Our studies have led to the development of mucosal vaccines that can prevent infection, transmission, and recurrent diseases.
Projects
Our research addresses mechanisms of innate immune recognition of viruses and initiation of adaptive antiviral immunity, particularly at the natural site of virus encounter at the mucosal surfaces. Basic insights gained from studying the natural immune protective mechanisms help propel better vaccine designs. On the other hand, when the immune system fails to successfully deal with the pathogens, downstream consequences include the development of infectious diseases, autoimmunity, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer. For specific projects being carried out in this laboratory, please click on the links below.
Immunology of acute COVID and vaccine responses
Immunology of long COVID
Long COVID refers to the long-term health and cognition effects that some people experience following infection with COVID-19.
Read MoreNeuroimmunology
The Iwasaki Lab is interested in the interactions between our body's nervous and immune systems when we grapple with infection and disease — as well as how researchers can harness or suppress natural immune responses to fight the cognitive impairment characteristic of some conditions.
Read MoreViruses, autoimmunity and cancer
Autoimmune diseases occur when our adaptive immune responses start attacking our own molecules. While many autoimmune diseases have been associated with various genetic risk factors, the environment also plays a major role.
Read MoreMucosal Vaccines against Viruses
Mucosal surfaces are among the primary and most vulnerable areas of our body when it comes to viral entry and infection.
Read MorePreparing for future pandemic pathogens
As illustrated by the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and Monkeypox outbreak, viruses of animal origin can dramatically impact human life and health. Consequently, it is critical that we develop and employ surveillance tools to identify animal viruses with the potential to infect and spread in humans before a spillover event occurs.
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Principal Investigator
Akiko Iwasaki, PhD
Waldemar Von Zedtwitz Professor of Immunobiology and Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology; Professor of Molecular Cellular and Developmental Biology; Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Contact Information
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