Gary Winslow profile picture
315 464-7658

Gary Winslow, PhD

Gary Winslow's email address generated as an image

CURRENT APPOINTMENTS

Research Professor Emeritus of Microbiology and Immunology

LANGUAGES

English

RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND AFFILIATIONS

Biomedical Sciences Program
Microbiology and Immunology

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Host defense against intracellular pathogens, B cell responses, immunological memory

RESEARCH ABSTRACT

Our research is focused on understanding how hosts defend themselves against pathogens. We perform our studies primarily in mouse models of human infectious diseases, and have used these models to address basic questions regarding the immune response. A central question addressed by our work is how the vertebrate host generates a successful immune response to infections, and why that sometimes fails to happen. In particular, our work focuses on the role of B cells and antibodies in host responses to intracellular bacterial pathogens. For example, we have studied that role of a type of antibody, known as IgM, and the particular B cells that generate these antibodies, during both acute and chronic infection by a rickettsiae of the genus ehrlichia. The ehrlichiae are tick-transmitted obligate intracellular bacterial pathogens, and have provided an excellent laboratory model for addressing fundamental immunological questions that are relevant to many infectious diseases. In particular, we are investigating a large population of IgM memory B cells that are elicited during infection and that are responsible for recall responses to secondary antigen challenge. We are using this model to address questions regarding the genesis, differentiation, and maintenance of immunological memory during infection, a topic of fundamental importance for the field.

Although our studies have been devoted largely towards basic research, we are also applying our research findings to the development of vaccines and therapies in humans. Here at SUNY Upstate we are extending our studies to human pathogens of global health importance, including dengue virus. By elucidating how effective immune responses are generated, our work will contribute to the development of vaccines and therapies for infections caused by pathogens of public health importance.

 

PUBLICATIONS

Link to PubMed (Opens new window. Close the PubMed window to return to this page.)