Host mucosal immune responses to infections and the control of inflammation.
The external surfaces of the body include the skin and several mucosal surfaces, such as the lining of the gut, nasal passages, airways, urinary tract, and genitals. These mucosal tissues are exposed daily to an overwhelming load of substances in the form of harmful or commensal microorganisms, allergens, food antigens, etc. The mucosal immune system recognizes these diverse antigens through the presence of a highly efficient epithelial barrier and a large population of specialized and multifaceted immune cells in a scattered and organized pattern underneath epithelial cells. To maintain a balance between the good and the bad, the mucosal immune cells and molecules are carefully regulated to promote a normal immune defense capability without the destruction of the mucosal tissues. Once the mucosal barrier and this thorough balance are disturbed, nonspecific stimulation and activation can lead to different forms of inflammation, resulting in pathological lesions and functional changes in the tissues. Chronic inflammation is generally considered as a causative factor in a variety of cancers.
The current research interests in Dr. Zhu’s laboratory are to identify novel mechanisms of immune regulation on mucosal infections, explore the pro- and anti-inflammatory signals controlling inflammations and limiting pathology in tissues, and understand how the mucosal immune system distinguishes pathogenic from non-pathogenic microbes and how pathogens evade innate and adaptive immunity. Finally, Dr. Zhu’s laboratory is also interested in translating the basic research by harnessing the mucosal immune system for developing novel mucosal vaccines against several important infectious diseases, such as Influenza virus, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), and Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and designing novel immune therapeutic strategies against lung inflammation including severe asthma.