Environment, Animal & Human Health

You are here

Environment, Animal & Human Health

  • Host-pathogen interactions and immunology of established and emerging model systems
  • Regulation of vertebrate and invertebrate development
  • Extremophiles as disease models and for vaccine delivery
  • Discovery of bioactive compounds with therapeutic potential
  • Natural and man-made environmental toxins
 

 

IMET is a leader in research of diseases (protozoan, bacterial, and viral) of economically and ecologically important marine and estuarine species, including Chesapeake Bay species such as the blue crab and the eastern oyster. Research spans innate immune recognition mediated by protein-carbohydrate interactions to acquired immunity in model and non-model systems, including in shark immunity. An important area for application of this research is in vaccine development, including gene-based vaccine antigens and archaea-derived vaccine delivery technology.

IMET contributes to human health through work in established and emerging model systems for the study of infectious disease, including Influenza A, pneumococcal pneumonia, and sepsis, and the role of Helicobacter pylori in gastric inflammation and cancer. Research in aquatic and microbial model systems contributes to understanding of vertebrate musculoskeletal development, eye lens development and retinal regeneration and the glycobiology of neoplastic transformation and progression. 

Research on drug discovery at IMET aims to find beneficial products from microbes associated with marine invertebrates and high value lipids and secondary products from algae. Novel lectins are explored as reagents for histochemistry, analytical and preparative glycoprotein studies, cell separation, and other applications.

Human health can be impacted by algal toxins in positive and negative ways. IMET scientists study the genes, biosynthesis and mechanisms of action of toxins from dinoflagellates and other algae, which may have beneficial uses as drugs. The development of low-cost bio-assays and in situ methods to reduce cyanobacteria blooms can help reduce the negative health impacts of harmful algal blooms.

 

Researchers working in this area:

 


Dr. Tsvetan Bachvaroff
UMCES-IMET

Dr. Shiladitya DasSarma
UMB-IMET

Dr. Helen Dooley
UMB-IMET

Dr. Shaojun "Jim" Du
UMB-IMET

Dr. Rosemary Jagus
UMCES-IMET

Dr. Russell Hill
UMCES-IMET

Dr. Allen Place
UMCES-IMET

Dr. Frank Robb
UMB-IMET

Dr. Eric Schott
UMCES-IMET

Dr. Harold Schreier
UMBC-IMET

Dr. Allison Tracy
UMBC-IMET

Dr. Vikram Vakharia
UMBC-IMET

Dr. Gerardo Vasta
UMB-IMET

Dr. Ten-Tsao Wong
UMBC-IMET

Dr. Yonathan Zohar
UMBC-IMET