Tufts Lab
Principal Investigator: Danielle M Tufts
Institution: University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, PA)
Primary Subfield: Immunology
Recruitment Status: Inquire for rotation/fellowship opportunities
Research Focus
PROJECT SUMMARY Human babesiosis is an emerging tick-borne infectious disease in the US that is primarily caused by the intraerythrocytic piroplasm parasite, Babesia microti (Bm). Clinical presentations of babesiosis can range from asymptomatic or mild symptoms to severe or fatal disease. Severe disease is likely dependent on several undefined variables including host and Bm genetics, immune status, and age-dependent variables. Several gaps in our knowledge exist about the characteristics that define protective immunity and the contribution of host genetics to severe Bm infection. Additionally, many studies use artificial transmission methods (needle inoculation) that are insufficient for understanding how Bm naturally affects host health. Therefore, a significant need exists to identify and characterize polymorphic host genes and pathways that drive variability in tick transmitted Bm infection to better understand specific genotypic signatures linked to disease phenotypes. The Collaborative Cross (CC) mouse resource is a vital tool to bridge the gap between host genotype and disease phenotype by enabling high-resolution quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping of complex traits in bo…
Active NIH Awards
- 5R21AI185273-02: Host heterogeneity affects susceptibility of Babesia microti infection using vector-mediated transmission (2026)
- 1R01AI198297-01: Borrelia burgdorferi genotypic diversity, pathogenesis, and host cellular responses (2026)
- 1R21AI185273-01A1: Host heterogeneity affects susceptibility of Babesia microti infection using vector-mediated transmission (2025)
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