Research Interests:
In broad terms the interest of the laboratory is structure/function of the immune response. Studies currently performed in the laboratory investigate new ways to program the adaptive immune response. We have developed a concept to vaccinate against tumor cells using as target antigen an enzyme (telomerase reverse transcriptase) present on tumor cells of all histological origin in humans. Studies at the preclinical level serve of support for an initial clinical study in cancer patients. We have also developed a new method to program the adaptive response in vivo using naïve adult B lymphocytes rendered transgenic ex vivo with suitably designed plasmid DNA. We found that transgenic lymphocytes are powerful inducers of adaptive responses in the mouse and in monkeys, and seem not to depend on dendritic cells for their function. Ongoing studies are determining the mechanisms of action of this new method to generate adaptive immune responses as well as its value in generating protection against tumor and infectious agents.
Track(s):
Microbiology/Immunology
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