With the recent development of a reverse genetics system here at St. Jude which allows the specific creation of influenza viruses of known composition, we have proposed a rational approach to vaccine design using multiple different antigens selected to provide protection against a wide range of influenza viruses within a subtype. Current research involves answering basic questions about the response of the immune system to multiple related antigens presented in the form of a DNA vaccine. The long term goal of the project is to design a vaccine that would be universal within a subtype of influenza, thus eliminating the need for yearly updates of the vaccine composition and yearly reimmunization. Overactive immune responses in themselves can be highly destructive. For example, in septic shock, a runaway inflammatory response to bacterial products is itself the cause of pathology.
Elaborate mechanisms exist to control macrophage activity.
However, the layers of control at the molecular, cellular and whole organism levels are not well understood. Our laboratory has a variety of on-going projects to dissect cytokine control of macrophages, both in vitro and in in vivo models of important human diseases. My laboratory is interested in characterizing factors that contribute to the chemosensitive phenotype of many childhood cancers. Our long term goal is to determine which molecular characteristics predict clinical behavior so that chemotherapy can be chosen based upon the proteins expressed by an individual tumor.