Research in the Lung Biology Laboratory (LBL) investigates lung inflammation and pulmonary host defense against bacterial pathogens. The overall research goal of the LBL is to understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms responsible for neutrophil recruitment, priming, and activation in infected lungs, smoke-exposed lungs, and smoke-exposed lungs and organs followed by infection in the lungs and other organs/tissues. In particular, the LBL is interested in determining the role of pattern recognition receptors (TLRs and NLRs) and their adaptors with the development of the innate immune response in the lung in murine models. Multiple bacterial pathogens that are studied include: Klebsiella pneumoniae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Legionella pneumophila, as causative pathogens of pneumonia. Specific interests of the respiratory disease group include: 1) Delineation of the role of pattern recognition receptors (Toll-like and NOD-like) and neutrophil chemokines, CXCL1, CXCL2, and CXCL5, in lung inflammation and host defense; 2) Elucidation of the mechanisms by which second-hand smoke makes the host susceptible to bacterial infection; 3) Determination of the host defense mechanisms associated with sepsis/septic peritonitis; and 4) Examination of the role of mouse lung-derived stem cells in host protection during bacterial pneumonia. Appropriate gene-deficient mice and human and murine primary cells are currently being used. In addition, non-human primate (NHP) models of bacterial lung infection are being developed with the collaboration of Tulane National Primate Center (TNPRC). The ultimate goal of the LBL basic and translation program is to resolve the mechanisms by which these bacterial pathogens cause inflammation in various tissues, and ultimately to design novel treatments and prevention strategies to attenuate excessive inflammation-mediated injury and/or minimize microbial burden.
