The Le Gros Laboratory focuses on understanding how the immune system responds to allergens or parasites in the skin and lung.
Their current research includes investigating the role of IL-4 and IL-13, two CD4 T cell-derived cytokines that appear to play dominant roles in skin and lung immunity and pathology.
The second major area of work is focused on understanding how parasites induce Type 2 immune responses in their hosts and how these immune responses can be used therapeutically to treat inflammatory diseases of the skin and lung of humans. Currently, the group is focused on developing scientific methods that enhance the effective use of hookworms (Necator americanus) as a therapeutic strategy for human inflammatory diseases in the skin and gut.
The long-term goal of this research group is to develop effective treatments against asthma, allergy and parasitic disease.
Research areas
Research projects
- Establishment of a Controlled Human Hookworm Infection Model
- Clinical feasibility of therapeutic hookworm intervention in Ulcerative colitis patients
- Development of Good Manufacturing protocols for the manufacturing , biobanking and release of human hookworms for therapeutic intervention studies
- Development of preclinical models of human hookworm infection
- Role of Il-4 and IL-13 producing CD4 Th2 subsets in immunity and predispositon to allergic and inflammatory diseases
Collaborations
- Otago University, Wellington
- Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine
- James Cook University
- Intestinal Immunology Lab, Monash University
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute
- University of Melbourne
- The Prince Charles Hospital
- Leiden University
- Washington University School of Medicine
- Baylor College of Medicine
Research highlights
![New clinical research aims to reduce stomach cancer rates and disparities in New Zealand](/assets/Uploads/Tom-M-Sciencelens_MG_6532-1__FocusFillWyItMC4wNiIsIi0wLjQwIiw2ODAsNDQ1XQ.jpg)
New clinical research aims to reduce stomach cancer rates and disparities in New Zealand
28 May 2024
![Scientists identify interferon-gamma as potential SARS-CoV-2 antiviral](/assets/Uploads/Images/General/MS22-072-020-KH22-25-D-ISH-600x-Edit-1__FocusFillWyIwLjAwIiwiMC4wMCIsNjgwLDQ0NV0.jpg)
Scientists identify interferon-gamma as potential SARS-CoV-2 antiviral
13 December 2023
![‘Infect and forget’: Hookworm study sets groundwork for medication-free management of inflammatory bowel disease](/assets/Uploads/Images/General/Dr-Tom-Mules__FocusFillWyIwLjAwIiwiMC4wMCIsNjgwLDQ0NV0.png)
‘Infect and forget’: Hookworm study sets groundwork for medication-free management of inflammatory bowel disease
16 June 2023