Isaac Babcock

Keywords neuroimmunology microglia genetics tissue-resident macrophages Research topic(s) CP: neuroscience CP: immunology Introduction Macrophages are sentinel immune cells present in all tissues that coordinate the initiation and resolution of inflammation. In the central nervous system (CNS), microglia are the resident macrophage population that plays critical roles in neurodevelopment, immune surveillance, and neurodegeneration.

Abstract Cell death is an integral restriction mechanism against intracellular pathogens. We have previously reported extensive cell death in the brain during infection with the intracellular parasite, Toxoplasma gondii. Here, we focus on the role of caspase-8, a regulator of extrinsic apoptosis, during T. gondii infection. We find that Casp8−/−Ripk3−/− mice have increased brain parasite burden in comparison to controls and succumb to infection despite the generation of robust immune responses.

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