Priority Research Area Infections

Cellular Pneumology

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Mission

Defense strategies that boost endogenous elements of innate lung responses to infection are a major focus both basic and translational to develop new prophylactic or therapeutic measures. The human C-type lectins surfactant protein (SP)-A and SP-D are soluble pattern recognition receptors regulating lung immune responses in vivo, partially by specifically controlling the high plasticity of alveolar macrophages towards lung immune homeostasis. We investigate lung specific innate imprinting by SP-A and SP-D to pulmonary infection with the focus on lung cell-specific/lectin interactions and downstream effects on cell activation/deactivation to target for development of therapeutic interventions.