Mucosal Immunity

Herman Staats, PhD

Dr. Staats is working to develop vaccine formulations, adjuvants, and delivery methods for mucosally-administered vaccines in an effort to optimize induction of mucosal immune responses able to protect against a wide variety of infectious diseases. HIV and poxviruses, as well as a number of other emerging infections, come in contact with humans at various mucosal surfaces. Modulation of immune responses at mucosal surfaces is a critical discipline towards development of successful vaccines.

Dr. Staats is developing both adjuvants as well as vaccine formulations for HIV, TB, and anthrax. By combining cytokines, cytokine genes, as well as other novel delivery systems, he works to optimize the induction of immune responses at respiratory, gastrointestinal, and genital mucosal surfaces. His recent work has demonstrated important gender differences in immune responses to vaccine administered by mucosal routes.