RESEARCH THEMES

My research is primarily focused on the multifaceted epidemiology of antigenically diverse pathogens such as Plasmodium falciparum, Dengue or Influenza. Many pathogens use complex immune evasion strategies to avoid detection and clearance by the host’s immune system which enable them to remain within the host for extended periods of time and also allow for high re-infection rates. With the help of mathematical models and in close collaboration with field and laboratory scientists I investigate the interactions between pathogens and the immune responses that can lead to immune evasion, and explore the driving forces behind antigenic diversity and population structures which facilitate persistence and epidemic outbreaks of infectious diseases.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Portugal S, Carret C, Recker M, Armitage AE, Gonçalves LA, Epiphanio S, Sullivan D, Roy C, Newbold CI, Drakesmith H, & Mota MM (2011). Host mediated regulation of superinfection in malaria. Nat Med, 17:732–7.

Recker M, Buckee CO, Serazin A, Kyes S, Pinches R, Christodoulou Z, Springer AL, Gupta S, Newbold CI (2011). Antigenic variation in Plasmodium falciparum malaria involves a highly structured switching pattern. PLoS Pathog, 7(3):e1001306

Lourenço J, & Recker M (2010). Viral and epidemiological determinants of dengue genotype replacement. PLoS Negl Trop Dis, 4(11):e894

Recker M, Blyuss KB, Simmons CP, Hien TT, Wills B, Farrar J, & Gupta S (2009). Immunological serotype interactions and their effect on the epidemiological pattern of dengue. Proc Biol Sci, 276(1667):2541-8.

Recker M, Pybus OG, Nee S, & Gupta S (2007). The generation of influenza outbreaks by a network of host immune responses against a limited set of antigenic types. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 104(18):7711-6.

Massey RC, Horsburgh MJ, Lina G, Hook M, & Recker M (2006). The evolution and maintenance of virulence in Staphylococcus aureus: a role for host-to-host transmission? Nat Rev Microbiol, 4(12):953-8.

Recker M, Nee S, Bull PC, Kinyanjui S, Marsh K, Newbold C, & Gupta S(2004).Transient cross-reactive immune responses can orchestrate antigenic variation in malaria. Nature, 429(6991):555-8.