Intestinal helminth, or worm, parasites infect millions of people and animals worldwide and cause significant morbidity. The immune system reacts to the parasites with type 2 inflammation, characterized by activating certain immune cells and intestinal epithelial cell responses that lead to worm expulsion. Recent studies have revealed that basophils, a rare type of white blood cell, are key players in type 2 inflammation, but exactly how basophils function in this context remains unknown. The Notch signaling pathway, a molecular lock-and-key that can rapidly communicate messages of inflammation to a variety of cell types, is a potential candidate for controlling basophil responses following parasite infection. ...

Continue reading about Tait Wojno's new grant on the Cornell Research site.