Theme :  Infection, Immunity and Inflammation

naglaa.shoukry@umontreal.ca

Voice:
514 890-8000 ext. 35235 

Fax:
514 412-7377

Keywords
Viral hepatitis, hepatitis C, liver disease, immuno-virology, T cells, flow cytometry.

Research Interests
The aim of my research program is to understand why the immune response fails to control the majority of HCV infections and what causes resistance to the available antiviral treatment. I use an integrated cellular and molecular approach in several projects:

Role of acute phase immune responses: Identification of acute HCV infection among intravenous drug users. These individuals are followed longitudinally to define host and viral factors that determine the outcome of acute HCV towards spontaneous resolution or chronic infection.

HCV-specific immunity during IFN-alpha antiviral therapy:  Response to antiviral therapy for HCV is likely dictated by a combination of host and viral factors. Research is focused on: understanding the role of the immune system in determining the response to the current treatment initiated in the acute or chronic phase; monitoring whether therapy can restore defects in the immune response associated with chronic infection; and understanding the viral factors and variation in the viral quasispecies associated with resistance and interference with the antiviral signalling pathways.

Bridging innate and adaptive immunity during acute HCV infection:
In collaboration with Dr. Salim Khakoo at Imperial College, London, study of the interaction between innate and adaptive immune responses post HCV exposure with a focus on the role of NK cells, dendritic cells and the host genetic background in this process.

Publications
Publications indexed onPubMed