MHS Faculty Research Series | Speakers: Professor Andrew MacDonald and Dr Margherita Bertuzzi
| Dates: | 18 March 2015 |
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| Times: | 12:30 - 14:00 |
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| What is it: | Seminar |
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| Organiser: | Institute of Inflammation and Repair |
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| Who is it for: | Adults, Current University students, University staff |
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'Host:'Institute of Inflammation and Repair
Speakers:
- Senior presenter: Professor Andrew MacDonald (MCCIR), “Inflammation at the interface: dendritic cell co-ordination of Type 2 immunity”
Professor Andrew MacDonald’s research investigates how pathogen interaction with the innate immune system influences the development of adaptive immunity and inflammation. His particular interest is Type 2 inflammation, which is responsible for widespread suffering in allergy, as well as being a hallmark of infection with parasitic worms (helminths). His laboratory’s work addresses some outstanding fundamental questions about the role of a specialised type of immune cell – the dendritic cell (DC) – in orchestration of Type 2 inflammation. DCs are centrally involved in initiation of immune responses in most settings, but the precise mechanisms by which they direct Type 2 inflammation are currently not known.
- Junior presenter: Dr Margherita Bertuzzi, Institute of Inflammation and Repair, “Mould pathogenesis in the mammalian lung”
Dr Margherita Bertuzzi is a postdoctoral research fellow of the Manchester Fungal Infection Group. Her previous and current research focuses extensively on fungal pathogenesis, with particular emphasis on the filamentous fungus Aspergillus fumigatus and the mechanisms by which this major fungal pathogen senses and adapts to the mammalian host niche. A central feature of invasive lung diseases caused by A. fumigatus is the penetrative growth of fungal hyphae across the respiratory epithelium. However, the molecular basis of the host-pathogen interaction at this interface remains poorly characterised. By using a novel, non-invasive A. fumigatus mutant lacking a pH-responsive transcription factor, Margherita will present a model of host-mediated damage in which two major, and sequentially acting, processes impact epithelial integrity in vitro and tissue invasion.
About the research series:
The monthly Faculty Research Series events are open to all staff and students from across the Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences and the University, offering an opportunity to celebrate research achievement and stimulate scientific interaction. Each month, one host School or Institute from the Faculty will pair with a different School or Institute to highlight and showcase similar topics from different perspectives.
Schedule:
Held on Wednesday lunchtimes, each meeting lasts an hour, including two 20-25 minute presentations – one from a junior and one from a more senior member of Faculty staff. Each presentation will be followed by a short discussion.
The event runs from 12:30 - 2.00pm; a buffet lunch will be available from 12.30 pm. Presentations begin at 1 pm.
Final details of presentation topics and speakers will be posted nearer the dates.
Registration:
Please note that places will be limited so registration is essential, please register via Eventbrite
Travel and Contact Information
Find event
Room 1.008
Roscoe Building
Manchester
