Developmental and comparative immunology

Introduction：

Developmental immunology studies the development of theinnate and adaptive immune systems during animal growth and over ages amongdifferent organisms. The development and differentiation of specialized immunecells are the fundamental processes in developmental immunology, It consists ofseveral highly programmed events that lead to the production of dendriticcells, T cells and B cells. On the other hand, the innate immune function of non-immune cells is the mostancient host defense strategy against pathogens in all multicellular organisms.The most successful immune strategies have probably been conserved over theensuing billion years of separate evolution of humans and invertebrates becauseof their high defensive value. By understanding host defense systems at thegenetic and molecular levels in the simple, genetically amenable invertebrateorganisms, we can learn about the fundamental pathways that are conserved ininvertebrates and humans. Thefield of developmental and comparative immunology is not only for elucidatingthe origin, program and molecular mechanisms of the immune systems themselves.,but also giving some suggestions for exploring the mechanisms of onset of somediseases which are associated with the development, activation and tolerance ofthe immune functions of different types of cells.

Our focus：

1) The development and differentiation of the specializedimmune cells

For explaining the molecular mechanisms of thedevelopment and differentiation of lymphocytes, the function of non-coding RNA(microRNA and LncRNA), ubiquitin ligase and deacytelase are the hot researchdirection in these days. Our research interests are focused on clarifying themechanism of non-coding RNA in T, B, and DC lymphocyte development andactivation.

2) The development and immune functions of the epidermalcells

The epidermis forms an outerprotective barrier against environmental damage and pathogens for most animals.The C. elegans epidermis actively responds to infection by many humanpathogens via distinct pathways that converge on conserved defensive signalingcassettes, thereby making C. elegansa powerful genetic tool to study host-pathogen interactions at the cellular andmolecular levels. We are currently engaging epidermal infection and injurymodels to explore novel mechanisms for epidermal immune responses and immuneregulation by epidermal structures.