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Geneticists on the trail of inborn immunity

A researcher at the University of B.C. is part of a team figuring out just which of our genes protect us from disease.

Dr. Robert Hancock is working with Dr. Lorne Babiuk at the University of Saskatchewan, in association with Genome BC and other organizations, to investigate genetic reactions to salmonella in mice. They hope to determine the relevance of selected genes to the body’s innate immunity.

These researchers don’t just passively observe. They remove certain genes so they can find out what happens in the absence of these genes. What happens and what doesn’t happen are equally important in isolating the genes that contribute to innate immunity.

As antibiotic resistance among bacteria grows, it will be increasingly important to capitalize on what we already possess to stay healthy. These researchers have made an important contribution to B.C.’s growing pool of knowledge on infectious diseases.

For more information, please visit http://www.pathogenomics.ca/.

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