Dirk Werling
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I am Professor of Molecular Immunology, and my main interest is the development of improved vaccine technologies, either through the direct targeting of cells or the development of new delivery platforms.
Biography
I graduated from the University of Veterinary Medicine in Hannover (Germany) in 1991, and received a PhD (DrMedVet) in Virology at the University of Zuerich, supervised by Wolfgang Langhans and Hans Lutz, on the interaction of bovine leukaemia virus (BLV) with bovine macrophages.
This was followed by a Marie Curie Research Fellowship in the lab of Chris Howard at the Institute for Animal Health (IAH Compton, UK). During this period, they described the functional characterisation of bovine monocyte derived dendritic cells. During this time, I also passed the exam as Specialist Veterinarian (Fachtierarzt FVH) for Laboratory Medicine and Immunology in Switzerland and gained a Ph.D. in Immunology (University of London).
He then moved back to the Wolfgang Langhans's group at the ETH Zuerich as a group leader and senior scientist, continuing the work started on bovine innate immune cells. In 2001, I was appointed as assistant professor (tenure track) at the Immunology Division at the Institute of Veterinary Virology (University of Bern) under Thomas Jungi, from where I moved to the RVC in 2003.
Research
The main area of research is the innate immune system, and the main questions the group is trying to answer how pathogens can evade the innate immune system. In addition, we are trying to answer how one can influence the innate immune system to obtain a specific adaptive immune response. This aspect of the work has recently attracted interest from pharmaceutical companies.
Current research focuses on recent evidence that there are species differences in the innate immune system and how this may affect vaccine designs. Current vaccine formulations are based on experiences in the mouse or human system, and the groups research is trying to assess whether these vaccines/vaccine-adjuvants are the ideal formulation for use in other domestic species.
See Werling Lab - Innate Immune System for more information.
Teaching
I am currently joined Course Director for the intercalated course in Veterinary Pathology (together with Prof. Cheryl Scudamore) and teach on several other courses.
Selected Publications
1. Flagellin expression enhances Salmonella accumulation in TLR5-positive macrophages.
Metcalfe HJ, Best A, Kanellos T, La Ragione RM, Werling D.
Dev Comp Immunol. 2010 Mar 4. [Epub ahead of print]
2. Expression of Toll-like receptor 2 in duodenal biopsies from dogs with inflammatory bowel disease is associated with severity of disease.
McMahon LA, House AK, Catchpole B, Elson-Riggins J, Riddle A, Smith K, Werling D, Burgener IA, Allenspach K.
Vet Immunol Immunopathol. 2010 May 15;135(1-2):158-63. Epub 2009 Dec 1.
3. TB or not TB: a disease forgotten, but not gone.
Coffey TJ, Werling D.
Transbound Emerg Dis. 2009 Aug;56(6-7):203.
4. WC1(+) gammadelta T cells indirectly regulate chemokine production during mycobacterium bovis infection in SCID-bo mice.
Alvarez AJ, Endsley JJ, Werling D, Mark Estes D.
Transbound Emerg Dis. 2009 Aug;56(6-7):275-84. Epub 2009 May 26.
5. Neutrophil and platelet activation in equine recurrent airway obstruction is associated with increased neutrophil CD13 expression, but not platelet CD41/61 and CD62P or neutrophil-platelet aggregate formation.
Dunkel B, Rickards KJ, Werling D, Page CP, Cunningham FM.
Vet Immunol Immunopathol. 2009 Sep 15;131(1-2):25-32. Epub 2009 Mar 20.
6. Variation matters: TLR structure and species-specific pathogen recognition.
Werling D, Jann OC, Offord V, Glass EJ, Coffey TJ.
Trends Immunol. 2009 Mar;30(3):124-30. Epub 2009 Feb 9. Review.
7. Theileria apicoplast as a target for chemotherapy.
Lizundia R, Werling D, Langsley G, Ralph SA.
Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2009 Mar;53(3):1213-7. Epub 2008 Dec 15.
8. Molecular cloning and characterization of Toll-like receptors 1-10 in sheep.
Chang JS, Russell GC, Jann O, Glass EJ, Werling D, Haig DM.
Vet Immunol Immunopathol. 2009 Jan 15;127(1-2):94-105. Epub 2008 Oct 8.
9. Molecular evolution of bovine Toll-like receptor 2 suggests substitutions of functional relevance.
Jann OC, Werling D, Chang JS, Haig D, Glass EJ.
BMC Evol Biol. 2008 Oct 20;8:288.
10. Host species-specific usage of the TLR4-LPS receptor complex.
Lizundia R, Sauter KS, Taylor G, Werling D.
Innate Immun. 2008 Aug;14(4):223-31.
11. Identification and functional characterization of a bovine orthologue to DC-SIGN.
Yamakawa Y, Pennelegion C, Willcocks S, Stalker A, Machugh N, Burt D, Coffey TJ, Werling D.
J Leukoc Biol. 2008 Jun;83(6):1396-403. Epub 2008 Mar 3.