Research groups
Karmella Naidoo
PhD
Senior Postdoctoral Scientist
Exploring CD1a, the role of innate immunity and its involvement in the context of skin inflammatory diseases
My expertise lies in cutaneous immunity, with a specific focus on atopic dermatitis (AD).
During my PhD, which was at the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research in New Zealand, I developed a novel model of allergic skin inflammation which closely resembles the disease pathology observed in AD patients. This model serves as a platform for the study of key cells and cytokines that are involved in the initiation and maintenance of skin disease. My doctoral research revealed an important role for eosinophils in driving AD pathology, thus making eosinophils a potential therapeutic target.
Following this, my postdoctoral research focused on the role of mucosal associated invariant T cells (MAIT) in allergic disease. This entailed gaining insight into MAIT cell plasticity and responsiveness to environmental cues, at different barrier sites such as the skin, lung and gut.
My research within the Ogg group will further explore how barrier impairment and the subsequent skin diseases lead to an immune dysregulation. These investigations will contribute to understanding the role of CD1a in the context of various skin inflammatory diseases, delineate its involvement in barrier dysfunction, microbial translocation and potentiating skin immune responses.
Recent publications
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Basophils drive the resolution and promote wound healing in adult and aged mice
Preprint
Bex J. et al, (2024)
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Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio in psoriasis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Journal article
Ye JH. et al, (2024), Archives of dermatological research, 316
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Tissue‐specific contribution of mucosal‐associated invariant T cells to allergic airway inflammation
Journal article
Cait A. et al, (2024), Allergy
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Goat Milk–Derived Lipids Restrain NK T Cell–Dependent Eosinophilic Inflammation in a Murine Model of Atopic Dermatitis
Journal article
Woods K. et al, (2022), Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 142, 2541 - 2543
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MR1‐dependent immune surveillance of the skin contributes to pathogenesis and is a photobiological target of UV light therapy in a mouse model of atopic dermatitis
Journal article
Naidoo K. et al, (2021), Allergy, 76, 3155 - 3170