About

Dr. Ehre is a scientist affiliated with the Division of Pediatric Pulmonology.

Dr. Ehre鈥檚 laboratory investigates the biochemical and biophysical properties of mucus which are affected in various airway diseases such as asthma, cystic fibrosis (CF), and primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD). These muco-obstructive lung diseases are characterized by chronic airway mucus obstruction and impaired mucociliary clearance. Although the underlying mechanisms vary between diseases, all of these lung conditions share common features that include mucus thickening, chronic inflammation, and susceptibility to disease exacerbations following viral infections. For children suffering from muco-obstructive diseases, respiratory viral infections can worsen mucus burden, dysregulate inflammation, and cause secondary bacterial infection, leading to prolonged recovery periods associated with severe bronchiolitis or pneumonia. In collaboration with virologists, they study host-pathogen interactions for a variety of respiratory viruses (RSV, SARS-CoV-2, Influenza) using a combination of cell and animal models of muco-obstructive lung diseases. Understanding the specific interactions between respiratory viruses and their hosts is crucial for developing effective strategies for disease prevention, treatment, and control.