Daniel Ricklin, Ph.D.

Description of Research Expertise

The primary focus of my research efforts is on the molecular elucidation of the role of the human complement system in health and disease. In recent years, a body of research has impressively demonstrated that the function of the complement system reaches far beyond the detection and elimination of microbial intruders but covers a broad range from immune modulation and metabolism to cell development and homeostasis, which require a highly tailored and context-specific response. Using an integrated approach based on biophysical (e.g., surface plasmon resonance), biochemical, structural, and cell-based techniques, my goal is to shed light into the underlying processes of complement activation and regulation, as well as to describe its molecular connections to associated physiological pathways. At the same time, it has become evident that any disruption of the careful balance between activation and regulation may contribute to pathological processes, and a number of complement-related diseases have been described in recent years and put complement-directed drug discovery into the spotlight. At the same time, complement is also involved in adverse effects observed in connection with the emerging field of biomaterials in modern medicine (e.g., implants, drug delivery devices). One aspect of my research therefore focuses on the discovery and development of potent inhibitors that allow for a therapeutic modulation of the complement cascade at various stages, and on the evaluation of such inhibitors in clinically relevant models. Finally, I am investigating the fascinating immune evasion mechanisms that human pathogens developed through millennia of co-evolution with their host. Focusing on Staphylococcus aureus, I examine various bacterial inhibitors directed against complement and other immune pathways, and explore their implications on immune activity and their potential as templates for therapeutics.