Biology of Model Systems & Developmental Biology

• Host-parasite interactions
• Developmental studies in zebrafish and other model organisms
• Immunity and cellular recognition in invertebrates, primitive fish and other models
• Archaeal, bacterial and eukaryote models for disease processes

Research on model systems include novel archaeal and bacterial microorganisms, understanding the bases of host- parasite interaction using Chesapeake Bay oysters and their pathogens, primitive fishes like lamprey and their novel immunoglobulins, which have applications in biomedicine, and developmental and stem cell biology of vertebrate models like zebrafish. The zebrafish is being used as a model system to study development and growth. This contributes to better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying skeleto-muscular diseases such as muscular dystrophy, or osteoporosis. IMET scientist are also actively involved identifying and characterizing genes critical for innate immunity, identifying the molecular mechanisms involved in the parasitic diseases that decimated the Chesapeake native oyster to overcome those devastating parasites, and uncovering the mechanisms of innate immune evasion by viruses. IMET scientists are also taking advantage of marine protozoan systems to produce immunogens of parasites that are of human and veterinary relevance.

In the Spotlight

IMET at the Inner Harbor

IMET is housed in the Columbus Center at Baltimore's Inner Harbor. IMET has 18 faculty members and ca. 150 staff, and 42 research laboratories...read more