Faculty

Tonyia D. Eaves-Pyles, PhD

Associate Professor
tdeavesp@utmb.edu
MRB, Route 1070
Department of Microbiology & Immunology
Phone: (409)772-9429
Fax: (409)747-6869

Education:	PhD | 1998 | University of Cincinnati College of Medicine Cincinnati, Ohio
	BA | 1986 | Hanover College, Hanover, Indiana

Overview

Pathogenic bacteria and their products induce innate immune response in the human host.

Research Interests

Dr. Eaves-Pyles’ research goals focus on understanding the interactions between pathogenic bacteria and mammalian cells. On a long-term basis, she hopes to gain a better understanding of how bacteria and their products exploit host cells by inducing and/or evading host immune responses and how host cells, specifically in the lung, respond to invading pathogens and communicate with one another to fight against the pathogen. She is examining, characterizing and analyzing the interaction of F. tularensis Schu4, Burkholderia mallei and Burkholderia pseudomallei with primary human alveolar type II cells alone or in co-culture with various immune cells. By examining the pulmonary innate immune response to Francisella and Burkholderia, Dr. Eaves-Pyles' seeks to better understand the role of alveolar epithelial cells during a Francisella or Burkholderia infection and identify how these cells might initiate clearance of these organisms through the signaling/induction of immune cells and determine the role of alveolar type II surfactant secretion during these infections. These studies will provide ground-breaking, vital information for understanding the interaction between F. tularensis or Burkholderia and host cells essential for understanding the pathogenicity of tularemia and will open up novel avenues for new vaccine development.

Recent Publications

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