Prof Kathryn Else

Research interests
I have a long-standing interest in the cellular immune responses to gastrointestinal dwelling nematode parasites in particular the mechanisms of immunity to the whipworm Trichuris. The parasitic nematode T. trichiura, infects 465 million people worldwide, primarily in low and low-to-middle income countries, resulting in disability, reduced worker productivity and poor child development. Trichuriasis is a classical disease of poverty and in endemic communities; prevalence can be above 90%, with children bearing the highest parasite burdens.

My research focuses on the mechanisms by which protective immunity is mediated and how antigen-driven inflammatory damage caused by infection is resolved. We are particularly interested in the cellular events which occur locally at the site of infection, the intestinal tract, and understanding the drivers of immune variation at gut barrier sites. The latter interest embraces longitudinal intervention studies using a wild mouse population on the Isle of May enabling us to ask immunological questions in a “real-world” context. My current research also focuses on exploring methods to control Trichuris infections in man, including novel drug discovery, innovative methods to break the life cycle, and vaccine development projects.