Zuri Sullivan Pioneers Research on Adaptive Sickness at MIT and Whitehead
Zuri Sullivan, a new assistant professor in the MIT Department of Biology and a core member of the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, is pioneering research at the complex intersection of neuroscience, microbiology, physiology, and immunology. Her work is dedicated to unraveling the biological mechanisms that underlie illness.
Redefining Immunity and Sickness
Sullivan offers a dual definition of immunity:
- As antimicrobial programs that directly defend against pathogens.
- As sickness, an altered organismal state that occurs during infection.
She hypothesizes that sickness is an adaptive process contributing to host defense, stemming from intricate brain-immune system interactions. The immune system communicates with the brain, which in turn influences host defense through its command over physiological systems and behavior.
Her research aims to bridge immunological processes across cellular, tissue, and organismal scales, investigating the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which the immune system and brain orchestrate changes like fever, loss of appetite, and altered social interaction.
Focus on Sickness Behaviors
Among the array of sickness behaviors, Sullivan shows particular interest in the reduction of appetite and changes in food choice, suggesting these alterations may be adaptively beneficial. Altered sleep patterns during infection are also a significant area of exploration.
She underscores the importance of characterizing these changes throughout the course of an infection, acknowledging both individual variability and the dynamic interplay between pathogens and the host.
Building an Interdisciplinary Lab
For her burgeoning lab, Sullivan is actively seeking creative individuals who can adeptly integrate diverse areas of biology to tackle organism-wide questions. She particularly welcomes those who can complement her existing expertise, such as in microbiology.
Sullivan emphasizes the rich, interdisciplinary environment offered by the Whitehead Institute.
Key Collaborations and Hypothalamic Focus
Current collaborations include significant work with Sebastian Lourido’s lab, focusing on how Toxoplasma gondii influences host social behavior.
She also maintains a keen interest in molecular neuroscience, aligning with Siniša Hrvatin’s lab, which investigates the hypothalamus and mechanisms generating torpor.
Sullivan's own work centrally positions the hypothalamus, recognizing its crucial role in regulating homeostatic behaviors—such as appetite, sleep, social behavior, and body temperature—all of which are profoundly altered during sickness.
By studying diverse sickness states caused by various pathogens like parasites, viruses, and bacteria, Sullivan aims to answer fundamental questions about both the mechanisms and the ultimate reasons for illness.