Cross-appointments
Community Health Sciences, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences
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Research interests
- Cell-mediated immunity
- HIV and STI epidemiology
- HIV transmission
- Inflammation
- Microbiome research
- Mucosal immunology of the female genital, gastrointestinal, and nasal tracts
- Tolerance mechanisms
Research affiliations
- Honorary Senior Scientist, Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Durban, South Africa
- Honorary Lecturer, Department of Human Pathology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
- Visiting Scientist, JC Wilt Infectious Diseases Research Centre, Public Health Agency of Canada Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Research summary
Dr. Lyle McKinnon’s research interests include understanding the HIV transmission in human cohorts, and the mucosal immune bases of infectious disease protection and susceptibility.
His group focuses on understanding the epidemiology and biology of HIV transmission and acute infection in humans, particularly in the female genital and gastrointestinal tracts.
Studies include defining factors that influence the number and types of HIV target cells at various sites around the body, how the microbiome and host interact at the mucosal surface, and how immune regulation of inflammation may be key to enhancing mucosal barrier integrity.
This work is done in collaboration with female sex workers, men who have sex with men, and young women. The ultimate goal of this work is to enhance the growing number of available, effective HIV prevention options for those who need them most.