Interactions between eosinophils and alveolar macrophages in lung disease

Type 2 immune bias is associated with the final stages of lung development and we have recently shown that eosinophils play a key role in this process: hyperactive eosinophils from birth perturbs lung development and drives the expansion and activation of alveolar macrophages. In this study, the student will investigate the signals that drive this response, using an adoptive transfer approach to determine if the activated alveolar macrophage phenotype is imprinted or reversible and dependent on lung tissue environment. The student will also use RNA-seq to examine the eosinophil and alveolar macrophage phenotype in greater detail. This project will use a combination of animal model studies, multiparameter flow cytometry, histopathology, lung disease quantitation techniques and multiomics technology to define molecular changes that lead to lung disease development.