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Welcome to the Foley lab in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Alberta.

We study the cellular machines that control responses to infectious microbes. We are particularly fascinated by the innate defenses that control defenses against bacterial invaders.

The innate immune system provides an essential first line of defense against disease-causing bacteria and is the only recognizable immune system in the overwhelming majority of multicellular organisms. In addition, innate immune signals activate and direct the sophisticated adaptive immune responses of vertebrates. Thus, studies of innate immune response pathways provide critical insights into the cellular basis for host-pathogen interactions in humans.

As innate immune response pathways are broadly conserved throughout evolution, the genetically accessible fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster has emerged as a valuable model for studies of innate immune signaling.

In our lab, we study the Immune Deficiency (IMD) response of fruitflies. The IMD pathway is an evolutionary ancestor of the mammalian Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) pathway, a critical cytokine response pathway that directs events that range from inflammation to cell death. We use our findings on Drosophila IMD signaling to inform subsequent studies of the mammalian TNF pathway.