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Drakesmith Group: Iron and Immunity

Investigative Medicine Division MRC Translational Immune Discovery Unit MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine

We are investigating how iron and anaemia influence immunity and infectious diseases. Our research inspires treatments that control iron physiology to benefit the host at the expense of pathogens.

We are investigating how iron and anaemia influence immunity and infectious diseases. Our research inspires treatments that control iron physiology to benefit the host at the expense of pathogens.

Iron is critical for life: too little can halt DNA synthesis and energy metabolism; too much can generate toxic reactive oxygen species. Furthermore, iron is essential for the growth of pathogens, but also for the immune system that fights infections. For example, during infection the host sequesters iron to deprive pathogens as part of the innate immune response, while T cells and B cells need iron for their function to clear the infection.

Iron levels in the body are controlled by a hormone called hepcidin, which acts analogously to how insulin controls glucose. Through collaborators in Europe, the US, Africa and Sri Lanka we have made significant contributions to how hepcidin and iron are controlled in health and disease, including anaemia, HIV, HCV and typhoid fever. We utilise experimental models of key diseases, including malaria, to manipulate hepcidin during infection and understand how iron affects immunity and the outcome of infection.

Drakesmith Team

Our team

DPHIL PROJECTS AVAILABLE

Iron and Immunity

Selected publications

More publications

Clinical Studies and Trials

Iron deficiency anaemia affects one sixth of the world’s population and has a variety of causes including low levels of dietary iron or chronic inflammation limiting iron availability. In cases where iron deficiency is the result of an infection, iron supplementation can enhance pathogen growth with lethal consequences. Our lab has pioneered new approaches to identify the “type” of iron deficiency anaemia and therefore the appropriate treatment option. These approaches are being trialled in Africa and in Oxford.

Collaborations

Andrew Prentice (The Gambia)

Michael Zimmermann (ETH Zurich and Oxford)

Jon Wade (Earth Sciences, Oxford)

Tiago Duarte and Graça Porto (Portugal)

Rose McGready and Francois Nosten (SMRU, Mae Sot, Thailand)

Alison Simmons (Oxford)

Bruno Galy (Heidelberg)

Irina Udalova (Oxford)

Lab alumni

Lucy Eddowes

Natasha Spottiswoode

Kinda Al-Hourani

Rachel Kandt

Podcasts

Podcast on Translational Medicine - Iron and Infectious Diseases, by Dr Hal Drakesmith.

Professors Hal Drakesmith and Jon Wade discuss how an unusual collaboration came about, and what it yielded.

Related research themes

We use state of the art techniques to interrogate the intricacies of our body’s response to pathogens, cancer and non-communicable diseases. We have particular strengths in T cell signaling, the innate immune system and therapeutic antibody development – particularly in oncology and against pathogens. We have forged strong links with clinical medicine to accelerate translation of laboratory studies into therapeutic strategies.
Immunology and Infection
We seek to understand the causes of diseases of the blood and other malignancies, from a molecular to systems level, with a focus on blood cancers, rare inherited conditions and the tumour microenvironment. We use and develop innovative techniques to drive research in this area, and are committed to bringing about change in clinical diagnosis and practice. Our pathologists discovered many of the biomarkers now used routinely in clinical practice, translate laboratory findings into clinical tests and are developing digital pathology initiatives.
Haematology and Pathology
A raft of cellular and molecular biology techniques underpin much of the work we do to elucidate the mechanisms of disease. We use established techniques to answer new questions and also develop our own novel and unique methodologies to drive further innovation.
Cellular and Molecular Biology
We seek to bridge the ‘innovation gap’ between ‘basic’ research in the laboratory and tangible benefits for patients. Our researchers aim to develop novel approaches to treating disease and we have particular strengths in evaluating technologies such as antibody therapy and gene therapy, and using new techniques for target discovery. Many of our researchers collaborate with biotech and industry partners to accelerate progress along the drug discovery pipeline and assess these new treatments in the clinic.
Emerging Therapies and Drug Discovery
We are committed to translating our innovative research into clinical benefit. From new methods of diagnosing chronic conditions, to finding the latest treatments for diabetes, cancer, heart disease, stroke and rare diseases, our department is involved in hundreds of clinical studies every year.
Clinical Studies and Trials