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The
Fawcett laboratory exploits a combination of functional genomic,
proteomic, and bioinformatic approaches to investigate
mammalian innate immunity. The lab takes a special interest in
the characterization and modulation of innate immunity signalling
leading to the production of the Type I interferons and
interferon-regulated gene products. These responses occur
downstream of the Toll- or RIG-like receptors, as well as incompletely
characterized
cytoplasmic surveillance pathways triggered in response to
intracellular bacterial pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes. To
this
end, the laboratory produces custom mouse whole-genome oligonucleotide
microarrays, and maintains a collection of innate immunity knockout
mice. As type I responses are, in some contexts, maladaptive for the
host (as is the case in listeriosis, endotoxemia, or adenovirus-based
gene therapy), the laboratory also has a significant interest in
investigating methods for the pharmacological inhibition of type I
responses, with a special interest in the effects of small molecule
inhibitors of the histone deactylases. Finally, the Fawcett
laboratory also maintains the VCU RAMHORN microarray database and
analysis platform, and is actively developing bioinformatic tools, such
as SLEDRIDE, for the
visualization and analysis of microarray data.
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