VALIDATE Vaccines for Skin NTDs Seminars - Pathogenesis Seminar 1
About the Seminar
In this first seminar of the series, we focus on the pathogenesis of skin neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), featuring expert insights into two major challenges: cutaneous leishmaniasis and Buruli ulcer. We will host two seminars on the topic of Skin NTD Pathogenesis — this is the first.
Immunopathogenesis in Cutaneous Leishmaniasis
Dr Fernanda Oliveira Novais, The Ohio State University, USA
Cutaneous leishmaniasis presents with a wide range of clinical outcomes, with immune responses often driving much of the pathology. Dr Novais will discuss her lab’s investigations into the immune mechanisms that promote tissue damage without contributing to parasite control — and how this knowledge could help identify novel immunotherapeutic strategies.
Inhibition of Sec61 by Mycolactone – A Virulence Mechanism with Major Impacts on Cellular Physiology Spanning Immunology, Cytotoxicity and Cardiovascular Function
Prof Rachel Simmonds, University of Surrey, UK
It has been more than a decade since mycolactone was first shown to inhibit protein translocation into the endoplasmic reticulum via the Sec61 translocon. Since then, significant advances have been made in understanding how this single interaction triggers a cascade of effects, ultimately leading to the necrotic skin ulcers characteristic of Buruli ulcer. In this talk, Prof Simmonds will explore the broader implications of these findings for our understanding of Mycobacterium ulcerans biology and argue that prevention — through vaccination — is preferable to current treatment options.
About the Speakers
Dr Fernanda Oliveira Novais, The Ohio State University, USA
Dr Novais is Assistant Professor at Ohio State University and Co-Director of the Host Defense and Microbial Biology Program at the Infectious Diseases Institute. With over 20 years of experience in immunology, her research combines murine models and human studies to investigate immune pathways linked to severe disease and treatment failure in cutaneous leishmaniasis.
Prof Rachel Simmonds, University of Surrey, UK
Research in Rachel's group focusses on the mechanism of action of mycolactone, the lipid-like immunosuppressive toxin of Buruli ulcer. Mycolactone has many unusual and fascinating biological activities, and in 2014 we identified its mechanism of action – as an inhibitor of Sec61-dependent protein translocation. We are now applying this knowledge to understand more about Buruli ulcer and basic cell biology. This finding also revealed an important role for haemostasis in Buruli ulcer, and we are currently seeking to understand how this may be linked to susceptibility to infection. Together, my research underpins the prevention, transmission, diagnosis, and treatment of Buruli ulcer, a neglected tropical disease.
