Dr. Elizabeth Norton and her research team are part of the Tulane School of Medicine Department of Microbiology & Immunology. Our research focuses on how to promote a healthy immune system. We are interested in how immunity can be manipulated against acute infections or during chronic inflammatory diseases, particularly for mucosal surfaces. Ongoing areas of research include: (1) the ADP-ribosylation enterotoxin proteins derived from heat-labile toxin of E. coli (LT) as adjuvants for vaccines to promote protective immunity (against flu, TB, Polio, ETEC diseases), (2) how inflammation or disease alters age-related immunity and vaccine efficacy, and (3) whether novel derivatives of LT that dampen inflammation can function as a unique inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) therapy. The links in the toolbar have more information about us and our research, but below, you can find a little more about the why, how, & what of the research we do.
How

How do we investigate imunological questions? Through tissue culture, animal models, & primary human samples. Some of our project specific assays include protein (gels, blots, ELISAs, bioplex); signaling (microscopy, WB, IP); cellular characterizations (microscopy, flow cytometry); site-specific or mucosal surface; bacterial, viral or disease-specific.