Biotechnology Laboratory, University
of British Columbia,
Vancouver, Canada, V6T 1Z3
The innate immune system is a highly conserved
and effective system that immediately overcomes nearly all potential infectious
agents. However, some pathogens are able to successfully
circumvent the innate system as well as acquired immune responses and cause
disease. Successful pathogens possess sophisticated
virulence mechanisms specifically designed to overcome host immune responses,
including both innate and acquired responses. Work
in our laboratory has been focused on the virulence mechanisms used by Salmonella and pathogenic E. coli to cause
disease, as well as the host mechanisms deployed to combat these pathogens. By understanding virulence mechanisms and immune responses
associated with such pathogens, potential therapeutics can be considered. For example, using such knowledge we have developed a bovine
vaccine against E. coli O157, significantly reducing the amount of bacterial
shedding. Recently we have been working on enhancing
host innate responses as potential preventatives and therapeutics. Results with these and other pathogens in animal infection
models suggest that enhancing innate immunity is a viable alternative to antibiotics,
and that by understanding mechanisms of pathogenicity and host immune response,
such responses can be tailored to counter infectious agents.