Dr Jenny Piercy

Research

My current research focus is bovine TB vaccinology, in particular the study of innate responses to TB vaccines that I believe are crucial for determining the immunological and protective outcome of vaccination. In my research I employ a range of molecular and cellular techniques to analyse the response of cattle to vaccination.

I have been involved in a study analysing gene expression profiles in vaccinated cattle prior to exposure to Mycobacterium bovis that can be used to predict the risk of a vaccinated animal going onto develop TB. Remarkably we found that a panel of ten genes originally identified in BCG-vaccinated infants as predictive of vaccine success or failure were also predictive of vaccination outcome in cattle, a finding that really underpins the use of cattle as a model for human TB and vice versa.

I am also interested in the immunology of the bovine respiratory tract and its importance as a potential vaccination site. I am characterising populations of innate immune cells that reside within the respiratory tract and how their distribution throughout the respiratory tract and their function may affect responses to vaccination.

Key Publications

Piercy, J. et al. (2011). “A ten gene signature identified in infants can also predict risk of tuberculosis in vaccinated cattle.” In progress.

Widdison, S., Watson, M., Piercy, J. and Coffey, T. (2008) "Granulocyte chemotactic properties of M.tuberculosis versus M. bovis-infected bovine alveolar macrophages." Molecular immunology 45(3): 740-749.

Piercy, J., et al (2007). "Differential responses of bovine macrophages to infection with bovine-specific and non-bovine specific mycobacteria." Tuberculosis 87(5): 415-420.

Piercy, J., et al. (2006). "CD45 negatively regulates tumour necrosis factor and interleukin-6 production in dendritic cells." Immunology 118(2): 250-256.

Werling, D., Piercy, J. et al. (2006). "Expression of TOLL-like receptors (TLR) by bovine antigen-presenting cells-potential role in pathogen discrimination?" Veterinary immunology and immunopathology 112(1-2): 2-11.