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