Infection and Immunity

A key focus is how the body responds to both infections and non-infectious triggers, particularly through resident immune cells in the body such as tissue macrophages and recruited inflammatory cells including neutrophils and monocytes. We investigate how these cells interact with others—such as lymphocytes and barrier-lining cells—as well as the role of chemical signals and cell death in controlling inflammation.

Our work also explores how communities of bacteria acting at body surfaces (microbiota) such as the gut, airways and skin, influence the development of inflammatory disease. We also examine how the immune system clears infections with minimal inflammation in healthy individuals, and how ageing or disease can disrupt this balance. 

Using advanced developmental and infection models that allow precise interrogation of specific populations of immune cells—including zebrafish, Drosophila, and unique mouse models—we study the roles of immune system development and function across the lifespan to uncover conserved immune mechanisms in both infectious and non-communicable inflammatory disorders and identify new targets for treatment.

Key areas of focus

• Short-term (acute) inflammation
• Initiation and resolution of inflammation
• Infection and infection models
• Role of development in infection and immunity
• Resident and recruited immune cells contributing to inflammation (e.g. macrophages and neutrophils) and their interactions in the tissue
• Zebrafish, drosophila and mouse developmental models
• Microbiome studies
• Cell death 

Theme Leads: Thamarai Schneiders and Jurgen Schwarze