Dr. Grinnage-Pulley’s research interest is in the intersection of microbial pathogenesis and the host immune response, particularly in zoonotic diseases.  Currently she is investigating the role of carbohydrate antigens in the immunologic response to the Leishmania parasite in the laboratory of Dr. Christine Petersen.

The surface of Leishmania carries a diverse array of carbohydrate and protein antigens that can interact with receptors on host immune cells. These carbohydrates are simple oligosaccharides.  We seek to utilize microparticle technology to define the processing of these oligosaccharides within host immune cells and their effect on the immune signaling cascade to promote or inhibit Leishmania infection.