Donald A. Harn, PhD, University of Georgia

Donald A. Harn, PhD
Donald A. Harn, PhD

The Harn laboratory studies identification of cell receptors and signaling pathways that drive anti-inflammatory activation of antigen presenting cells and development of vaccines and therapeutics for HIV-1 and schistosomiasis. They â??determined that a biologically conserved glycan (LNFPIII) is anti-inflammatory. LNFPIII alternatively activates macrophages and dendritic cells via a non-canonical signaling pathway that drives maturation of anti-inflammatory cells. They have shown that LNFPIII is a potent anti-inflammatory agent in vivo, with broad therapeutic capability. Additionally, administration of LNFPIII to HIV-1 infected cells significantly reduces HIV-1 viral loads. Currently they are employing bioinformatics to determine the activation pathways and immune mediators induced by LNFPIII, in conjunction with knockdown, loss of function studies to discover new anti-inflammatory and anti-retroviral reagents.

See Also: UGA Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases

 

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References

  1. Grenfell RF, Coelho PM, Taboada D, de Mattos AC, Davis R, Harn DA. Newly established monoclonal antibody diagnostic assays for Schistosoma mansoni direct detection in areas of low endemicity. PLoS One. 2014 Jan 31;9(1):e87777.
  2. Grenfell R, Harn DA, Tundup S, Da'dara A, Siqueira L, Coelho PM. Newapproaches with different types of circulating cathodic antigen for the diagnosisof patients with low Schistosoma mansoni load. PLoS Negl Trop Dis.2013;7(2):e2054.
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