Infection, Disease Control and Prevention

Sara Dann research focuses on understanding the interaction of enteric pathogens with the host mucosal immune system. Her goals are aimed at defining the role of common parasites, such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium, in intestinal inflammation and the involvement of innate immunity in this process. She is currently studying how dendritic cells and other innate cells initiate immune responses while maintaining intestinal tolerance. Understanding these processes will allow her to dissect the mechanisms involved in microbial-triggered colitis in genetically-susceptible hosts. Her findings might have very direct implications for the design of improved therapeutic and preventive strategies for the treatment of IBD.