Numerous diseases involve aberrant immune and inflammatory responses.
The primary focus of our laboratory studies is to determine the in vivo function of the molecular signals, known as cytokines that mediate inflammation and immunity. Specifically, we have developed standardized models of pulmonary hypersensitivity-type granulomatous inflammation induced by antigens of Mycobacteria sp. And Schistosoma mansoni in order to analyze the cascade of cytokines that lead to initiation, sustenance and resolution of these lesions. We examine a wide variety of cytokines including interleukins, interferons, colony stimulation factors, tumor necrosis factors and chemokines. To this end, we use a number of immunoassays and bioassays to detect the presence of cytokines during the various stages of the inflammatory response.