Subhra K. Biswas

Monocytes and macrophages are key immune cell types that perform diverse functions ranging from homeostatic processes (e.g. organogenesis, thermoregulation, innervation) to host defense against pathogens and cancer. However, a dysregulation in their functions is often associated with various pathologies like sepsis, cancer, metabolic diseases and allergy. Hence, studying the dysregulated phenotype of monocytes/macrophages in a disease provides a direct insight into the disease mechanism. The overall aim of our laboratory is to i) characterize the dysregulated phenotype of monocytes/macrophages in selected human diseases (with an aim to identify immune signature-based biomarkers); ii) identify the mechanisms which drive this dysregulation, and iii) target mechanisms to re-program these cells to fight disease progression. In the current laboratory, we will focus on dissecting the role of these cells (as well as other innate immune cells) in fungal diseases, which constitute a substantial impact on human health, especially under immunocompromised conditions. We intend to investigate the host (immune)-fungal pathogen interactions using deep immunoprofiling techniques in various cohorts of human fungal disease with an aim to characterize their dysregulated immune signatures (hence potential biomarkers) as well as identify and evaluate immune targets to regulate fungal disease. In the later stages, our work will expand to other infectious diseases and vaccine responses.