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We are investigating how iron and anaemia influence immunity and infectious diseases. Our research inspires treatments that control iron physiology to benefit the host at the expense of pathogens.

We are investigating how iron and anaemia influence immunity and infectious diseases. Our research inspires treatments that control iron physiology to benefit the host at the expense of pathogens.

Iron is critical for life: too little can halt DNA synthesis and energy metabolism; too much can generate toxic reactive oxygen species. Furthermore, iron is essential for the growth of pathogens, but also for the immune system that fights infections. For example, during infection the host sequesters iron to deprive pathogens as part of the innate immune response, while T cells and B cells need iron for their function to clear the infection.

Iron levels in the body are controlled by a hormone called hepcidin, which acts analogously to how insulin controls glucose. Through collaborators in Europe, the US, Africa and Sri Lanka we have made significant contributions to how hepcidin and iron are controlled in health and disease, including anaemia, HIV, HCV and typhoid fever. We utilise experimental models of key diseases, including malaria, to manipulate hepcidin during infection and understand how iron affects immunity and the outcome of infection.

Collaborations

Andrew Prentice (The Gambia)

Michael Zimmermann (ETH Zurich and Oxford)

Jon Wade (Earth Sciences, Oxford)

Tiago Duarte and Graça Porto (Portugal)

Rose McGready and Francois Nosten (SMRU, Mae Sot, Thailand)

Alison Simmons (Oxford)

Bruno Galy (Heidelberg)

Irina Udalova (Oxford)

Lab alumni

Lucy Eddowes

Natasha Spottiswoode

Kinda Al-Hourani

Rachel Kandt

Podcasts

Podcast on Translational Medicine - Iron and Infectious Diseases, by Dr Hal Drakesmith.

Professors Hal Drakesmith and Jon Wade discuss how an unusual collaboration came about, and what it yielded.