The Gestal Lab
LSU Health Science Center at Shreveport

The Gestal Lab investigates how bacterial pathogens manipulate the immune system to promote their survival, persistence, and transmission.

We focus on Bordetella species, the bacteria that cause whooping cough, which has been resurging worldwide since 2023 despite the widespread preventative measures being in place. One reason for Bordetella’s success is its remarkable ability to hijack host immune defenses, allowing the bacteria to persist in the lungs for months and preventing the development of long-term protective immunity.

Our recent studies, published in Cell Reports, Communications Biology, and Infection & Immunity, revealed that Bordetella exploits eosinophils, immune cells traditionally associated with allergies and asthma, to suppress early immune responses and establish persistent infection. We discovered that eosinophils play a dual role, they can either drive adaptive immunity or, conversely, facilitate bacterial persistence, and the mechanisms that shift the balance towards one side or the other are currently the focus of our investigations. 

Our findings, supported by similar publications on the field, redefine the role of eosinophils in bacterial diseases and highlight their potential as therapeutic targets. Building on these discoveries, our lab is developing novel immunotherapies that enhance antibiotic efficacy and prevent chronic respiratory disease.