The major goal of my research is to investigate mechanisms of lung host defenses in normal and immunocompromised hosts. Presently, we are investigating how IL-23 and IL-17 regulate neutrophil recruitment in response to infectious stimuli in the lung. We also have a long-standing interest in understanding cytokine biology in the lung through over-expression or dominant negative inhibitor strategies using somatic gene transfer. In these studies we have identified that sub-populations of CD8+ T-cells polarized in vivo via cytokine gene transfer have effector activity against P. carinii. We are presently using gene expression profiling and proteomics to define this effector activity. We also have a program in developing CD4-independent vaccination against AIDS-related opportunistic infections and a program to investigate the immunosuppressive affects of alcohol abuse.