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Immune Modulation

Immune Modulation

Dr. George Mutwiri's research team explores strategies that activate innate and adaptive immune responses against infectious diseases. This is achieved by use of immunostimulatory molecules and/or formulation and delivery systems.  

 

Our CpG oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) project explores the mechanism by which CpG ODN, a TLR9 agonist, activates innate and adaptive immunity.


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 We are also conducting research with polyphosphazenes, a class of biodegradable polymers with potent adjuvant activity and with great potential as vaccine delivery systems.


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In our avian viral vaccine research project, we investigate the molecular basis of viral pathogenesis and immune modulation by avian viruses and immune modulating agents, to improve vaccines against viral infections in poultry. Current research is focused on inclusion body hepatitis infections (HBV) in chickens, a significant disease with no commercial vaccines.


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We are also investigating the potential uses of carbon nanotubes as immune adjuvants.


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Research Partners

 

VIDO-InterVac acknowledges the organizations that have provided funding for this research:


Members of this Research Group

 

Program Manager:  George Mutwiri

Scientists:  Arshud Dar, Jan Van den Hurk

Technicians:  Donna Dent, Ken Lai

Graduate Students:  Steve Jimbo, Sunita Awate

Post doctoral Fellows:  Nelson Eng


Awards, Publications, Links

 

Below are some sample publications for this research group.  More information can be obtained in Publications and Patents.

 

  1. Andrianov A., D. Decollibus, H. Gillis, H. Kha, A. Marin, M. Prausnitz, L. Babiuk, H. Townsend and GK Mutwiri. 2009. Poly[di(carboxylatophenoxy)phosphazene] is a potent adjuvant for intradermal immunization. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (PNAS), USA. 106:18936-41.
  2. Eng, N., S. Garlapati, K. Lai, V. Gerdts and G.K. Mutwiri. 2009. Polyphosphazenes enhance mucosal and systemic immune responses in mice immunized intranasally with influenza antigens. The open Vaccine Journal (In press).
  3. Brownlie, R., J. Zhu, B. Allan, G.K. Mutwiri, L.A. Babiuk, A. Potter and P. Griebel. 2009. Chicken TLR21 acts as a functional homologue to mammalian TLR9 in the recognition of CpG oligodeoxynucleotides. Molecular Immunology 46: 3163-70.
  4. Booth, J., P. Griebel, L.A. Babiuk and G.K. Mutwiri. 2009. A novel regulatory B cell population in sheep Peyer's patches spontaneously secretes IL-10 and down-regulates TLR9-induced IFN-α responses. Mucosal Immunology 2: 265-76.
  5. Griebel, P., L.A. Babiuk, G.K. Mutwiri, J. Armstrong and F. Gaertner. 2009. Amended recombinant cells (ARCsTM) expressing bovine IFNγ: An economical and highly effective adjuvant system. Vaccine 27: 1377-85.
  6. Garlapati, S., M. Facci, M. Polewicz, S. Strom, L.A. Babiuk, G. Mutwiri, R.E. Hancock, M. Elliot and V. Gerdts. 2009. Strategies to link innate and adaptive immunity when designing vaccine adjuvants. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology, 128: 184-91.
  7. Mutwiri, G.K., S. van den Hurk and L.A. Babiuk. 2009. Approaches to enhancing the immune responses stimulated by CpG oligodeoxynucleotides. Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews 61: 226-32.
  8. Zhu, J., R. Brownlie, Q. Liu, L.A. Babiuk, A. Potter and G.K. Mutwiri. 2009. Characterization of bovine Toll-like receptor 8: ligand specificity, signaling essential sites and dimerization. Molecular Immunology, 46:978-90.
  9. Zhu, J., S. van den Hurk, R. Brownlie, L.A. Babiuk, A. Potter and G.K. Mutwiri. 2009. Multiple molecular regions confer intracellular ER localization of bovine Toll-like receptor 8. Molecular Immunology, 46: 884-92.
  10. Taghavi, A., B. Allan, G. Mutwiri, M. Foldvari, A. Van Kessel, P. Willson, L.A. Babiuk, A. Potter and S. Gomis. 2009. Enhancement of immunoprotective effects of CpG-ODN by formulation with polyphosphazenes against E. coli septicaemia in neonatal chickens. Current Drug Delivery. 6: 76-82.