Liyanage Lab

06/25/2026

https://rdcu.be/fqfTd

11/15/2025

Dilani and Ilmini showcased their research on NK-cell regulation in pediatric HIV and in adults living with HIV who have high coronary calcium at the Infectious Diseases Institute’s 7th Annual Meeting. Their presentations highlighted our lab’s ongoing efforts to understand innate immune dysregulation across diverse patient populations.

10/25/2024

Congratulations to Manuja Gunasena, the first PhD graduate from Liyanage lab, on an outstanding dissertation defense! We're so proud of you, Dr. Gunasena—amazing work and hard-earned achievement !!!!

10/06/2024

Thrilled to share our work on innate immune cells and cardiovascular risk in COVID-19 is featured in the latest issue editorial! Huge thanks to everyone involved! https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/ATVBAHA.124.321085

06/01/2024

Commensal bacteria are an important component of a host’s physiological environment and play a critical role in its functional homeostasis, immune system development, and protection against pathogens (1, 2). Despite their importance, the factors influencing persistent bacterial colonization and it...

08/21/2023

Happy to share our latest research published in . Our findings reveal distinctive SIV-induced immune responses in tonsils compared to other mucosal tissues

HIV-infected patients are at higher risk of developing oral mucosal infection and Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)-associated B cell malignancies. However, the potential role of oral immunity in the pathogenesis of oral lesions is unknown. Tonsils are oral-pharyngeal mucosal-associated lymphoid tissues th...

10/08/2022

Scientists from The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The Alfred, Monash University now have a clearer picture of how T cells discriminate between self-antigen and foreign antigens, highlighting the role of NK cell receptors in helping T cells fight viruses and prevent autoimmunity.

Learn more here: https://fcld.ly/7o8ltgg

09/25/2022

The primary focus of our laboratory is to understand the host-pathogen interactions and to use this knowledge to develop therapeutics and preventive vaccines for viral infections such as HIV. We are currently focusing on;

(1) Understanding the role of innate immune cells (NK/ILC/monocytes) in HIV/SIV pathogenesis and preventive vaccines

(2) Investigating the role of innate immunity in HIV/TB co-infection and BCG vaccination.

(3) Studying the Immunopathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19-associated cardiometabolic complications, and the development of therapeutics.