Researcher Showcase - Anele Gela
Position: Post-doctoral fellow
Research interests: Human Donor Unrestricted T (DURT) cell responses to whole cell mycobacterial vaccines
Recent publications:
- Anele Gela, Gopinath Kasetty, Sandra Jovic, Maria Ekoff, Gunnar Nilsson, Matthias Mörgelin, Sven Kjellström, James E. Pease, Artur Schmidtchen, Arne Egesten. Eotaxin-3 (CCL26) exerts innate host defense activities that are modulated by mast cell proteases. Allergy 2014; DOI: 10.1111/all. 12542
- Gela A, Kasetty G, Bergqvist A, Erjefält JS, Mörgelin M, Pease JE, Egesten A. Osteopontin binds and modulates functions of eosinophil-recruiting chemokines. Allergy. 2015 Sep 28. doi: 10.1111/all.12771
- Gela A, Bhongir RKV, Mori M, Keenan P, Mörgelin M, Erfefält JS, Herwald H, Egesten A, Kasetty G. Osteopontin that is elevated in the airways during COPD impairs the antibacterial activity of common innate antibiotics. PLoS ONE 11(1). January 2016. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0146192
Why I love immunology/why I think its important: I have always been fascinated about human physiology, the evasive mechanism of invading pathogens, and how the immune system keeps in check the constant challenges and still maintain a perfect homeostatic balance. An in-depth understanding of these immune mechanisms allows us to devise better strategies for therapeutic interventions.
If I weren’t an immunologist I would be: Bar tender
Tips for young people who want to enter the field of immunology: Science is about patience.
You can get in touch with me by: anele.gela@uct.ac.za
Interview by Bonamy Holtak