Infection and Immunity

The Infection and Immunity research theme brings together researchers to study how inflammation begins, progresses, and resolves, and its role in development, health, and disease.

A key focus is how the body responds to both infections and non-infectious triggers, particularly through frontline immune cells like macrophages and neutrophils. 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 gut health (the microbiome) influences disease, how the immune system clears infections with minimal inflammation, and how ageing or disease can disrupt this balance. Using advanced infection models—including zebrafish, Drosophila, and unique mouse models—we study immune system development and function across the lifespan to uncover conserved immune mechanisms 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
  • First line of defence immune cells (e.g. macrophages and neutrophils, and their interactions)
  • Zebrafish, drosophila and mouse developmental models
  • Gut health (microbiome) studies
  • Cell death

Theme Leads: Thamarai Schneiders and Jurgen Schwarze

Live confocal imaging reveals immune cells (green) with their nuclei labelled (magenta) clustered at a wound made to a Drosophila embryo.
Live confocal imaging reveals immune cells (green) with their nuclei labelled (magenta) clustered at a wound made to a Drosophila embryo (credit: Prof Will Wood)

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