Welcome to the Peters Lab

The Peters lab is focused on the immuno-biology of chronic infectious diseases, with a special emphasis on vector transmitted diseases. The lab employs cutting edge multicolor flow cytometry and two-photon microscopy to unravel the intricacies of host-pathogen interactions in the skin and internal organs. The work centers on the earliest events in the host response, including inflammatory cell interactions with a vector inoculated pathogen, and the regulation and expression of immunity to reinfection, including an exploration of the concept of T cell memory during chronic infections. The lab employs experimental models of the parasitic disease leishmaniasis in order to understand the immune mechanisms that control disease. Understanding the mechanisms underlying naturally acquired resistance is essential to the design of vaccines. The lab also maintains colonies of vector sand flies in a high containment insectary funded by the Canadian Foundation for Innovation to study Leishmaniasis following transmission of Leishmania via sand fly bite. The goal of the lab is to develop new therapies and vaccines to combat chronic infectious diseases.

Feel free to contact us if you want to learn more, or even better, join our team!