Introduction
Our research into canine innate immunity (headed by Dr. Karin Allenspach, in collaboration with Prof Dirk Werling) focuses on the interplay of innate immunity receptors with microbial patterns on the surface of bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites.
In particular, we are interested in elucidating the pathways leading to aberrant inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in dogs in general and in the German Shepherd Dog in particular.
We have recently identified several single-nucleotide polymorphisms in Toll like receptors (TLRs) in the breed of German Shepherd Dogs which are associated with an increased risk of development of IBD in this breed.
Several ongoing projects in the lab are looking into the molecular pathomechanisms of such mutations leading to disease, and how the innate and adaptive immune system in the gut could be skewed towards a less inflammatory response.
Alongside the laboratory projects, we have several ongoing clinical trials at the Queen Mother Hospital for Animals (see RVC Clinical Investigations Centre) which complement our work by providing clinical evidence for new therapeutic agents and samples for our projects.
In addition, we are interested in understanding how parasites such as Leishmania infantum hijack innate immunity to establish chronic infections in their host species, the dog.
We utilise genetic approaches (i.e. Genome-Wide Association Studies and genotyping of dogs), functional assays such as whole blood and ex-vivo intestinal biopsy cultures, molecular biology methods (i.e. immunocytochemistry, real-time PCR and Western blotting), luminescence & fluorescent measurements and confocal microscopy.
Contact Details
Karin Allenspach Dr.med.vet. FVH PhD Dipl. ECVIM-CA FHEA MRCVS
Senior Lecturer Small Animal Internal Medicine
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences
Hawkshead Lane
North Mymms
Herts., AL9 7TA
UK
email: kallenspach@rvc.ac.uk