The diversity of mucosal immune systems 

I am an Evolutionary  Immunologist at the Biology Department, University of New Mexico and part of CETI (Center for Evolutionary and Theoretical Immunology). 

I love the complexity of immune systems, from bacteria to humans. My research focuses on the diversity of mucosal immune systems and its evolution in vertebrates. Mucosal surfaces are at the interface between hosts and the environment and therefore integrate the external and internal signals.

My laboratory has very diverse research interests and we currently have active projects in sharks, trout, zebrafish, lungfish, amphibians and mammals. These projects reflect the diversity and breadth of the research that takes place at the UNM Biology Department.

In the recent years, we have specialized in the understanding of nasal immunity and the neuroimmune interactions that occur in the olfactory-central nervous system axis in response to microorganisms.