Biology

Prof. Sarat Kumar Dalai
Institute of Science, Nirma University, Ahmedabad

Our laboratory is interested in understanding the generation and maintenance of memory T cell responses. Although we are addressing these issues from basic immunology point of view, the nature of our research is translational. Major efforts of our laboratory are directed toward understanding the nature of immune responses generated against Plasmodia liver-stage infection. Protective immunity against malaria parasite can be generated experimentally or by natural infection. However, the protection does not last long. We have developed animal model(s) that is analogous to natural infection encountered by people living in endemic area, and found that the protective immunity can be extended longer in immune-mice receiving intermittent challenge of infectious sporozoite. Currently we are working on understanding how the infectious sporozoite challenge is bringing in qualitative changes in the immune responses, (particularly, memory T cell responses) that help enhance longevity of the anti-parasite specific immunity. Using the tools of genetic engineering we are also working on developing novel immune-modulator that will potentiate generation of robust effector and memory T cell responses and help maintain the specific immunity long.  In parallel, we are also working on developing alternative vaccination strategies for non-live (subunit) vaccines to induce long-lived memory T cells.