Clinical study examining stool microbiome samples in infants with food allergy. Studies indicate that the risk of food allergy in increased in children born by C/section or who have had antibiotics. Studies in murine models also show important effects of commensal bacteria on the development of allergy. The student would function as a coordinator in recruiting patients for this study, and in analyzing the data, when it become available.

Allergic diseases and asthma are major public health problems that have dramatically increased in prevalence over the past decade. The reasons for this increase are not understood, nor do we fully understand many of the pathophysiological mechanisms that underlie the cause or the prevention of these problems. Our laboratory has many opportunities for students to participate in basic science or clinical research focused on these diseases and the immunology of these problems.

Although allergic inflammation driven by Th2 cells and eosinophils can explain many features of allergic asthma, over the past 5 years, it has become clear that asthma is very heterogeneous, and that many observations in asthma cannot be explained by allergic inflammation and Th2 cells. The goals of these studies are to determine how innate immune mechanisms, involving Natural Killer T (NKT) cells, Natural Helper cells (also called nuocytes), alveolar macrophages and dendritic cells, as well as IL-17, IL-25, IL-33 and TSLP, regulate the development of asthma. From these studies, using experimental models with viral infection, ozone exposure and diet induced obesity, novel therapies targeting these cell types or cytokines may be developed. These studies involve analysis of clinical samples (bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and blood) from patients with moderate to severe asthma, as well as examination of mice in several distinct models of asthma. Depending on his/her interests and background, the student can become involved in studies involving four- to eight-color flow cytometry, purification and isolation of cells, culture of human and mouse lymphocytes, cytokine analysis by RT-PCR or ELISA, histochemistry or confocal microscopy. These projects will interface with other ongoing immunological studies of the molecular, cellular and microbial basis of lung inflammation and allergy. The specific qualification of the student can vary, as long as there is interest and motivation to learn, participate and contribute to clinical and scientific goals of the study.