Position
Professor, Department of Medicine, McGill University
Associate Member, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, McGill University
Strauss Chair in Respiratory Diseases
Associate Director, McGill International TB Centre
Currently accepting graduate students and postdoctoral fellows
Research Interests
Our lab focuses on investigating the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the cross-talk between innate and adaptive immunity to major pulmonary infectious diseases, such as influenza and tuberculosis. Host survival during infection in vital organs, such as the lung, requires a delicate balance between host resistance, which is essential for detecting and eliminating the pathogens, and disease tolerance, which is critical in minimizing collateral tissue damage. We are also investigating how to harness the power of innate immunity in vaccine via reprogramming of hematopoietic stem cells. In summary, understanding the regulatory mechanisms involved in both host-resistance and tolerance is essential for the future development of an effective therapy or vaccine.
Research Foci
- Host defense (Resistance & Tolerance) against influenza and TB
- Hematopoietic Stem Cells in Infection and Vaccine
- Trained Innate Immunity
- Macrophage Cell Death Programs
- Metabolism in Infectious Diseases
- Eicosanoids in Infectious Diseases
Article in International Innovation
*International Innovation, published by Research Media, is the leading global dissemination resource for the wider scientific, technology and research communities, dedicated to disseminating the latest science, research and technological innovations on a global level. More information and a complimentary subscription offer to the publication can be found at: www.researchmedia.eu
Featured Publications
Mitochondrial cyclophilin D promotes disease tolerance by licensing NK cell development and IL-22 production against influenza virus
Downey J, Randolph HE, Pernet E, Tran KA, Khader SA, King IL, Barreiro LB, Divangahi M. Cell Rep. 2022 Jun 21;39(12):110974.
Brain motor and fear circuits regulate leukocytes during acute stress
Poller WC, Downey J, Mooslechner AA, Khan N, Li L, Chan CT, McAlpine CS, Xu C, Kahles F, He S, Janssen H, Mindur JE, Singh S, Kiss MG, Alonso-Herranz L, Iwamoto Y, Kohler RH, Wong LP, Chetal K, Russo SJ, Sadreyev RI, Weissleder R, Nahrendorf M, Frenette PS, Divangahi M, Swirski FK. Nature. 2022 Jul;607(7919):578-584.
Lack of evidence for intergenerational inheritance of immune resistance to infections
Kaufmann E, Landekic M, Downey J, Chronopoulos J, Teimouri Nezhad S, Tran K, Vinh DC, Barreiro LB, Divangahi M. Nat Immunol. 2022 Feb;23(2):203-207.
Training the metaorganism: the microbial counterpart
King IL, Divangahi M. Cell. 2021 Jan;184(3):574-576.
Trained immunity, tolerance, priming and differentiation: distinct immunological processes
Divangahi M, et al. Nat Immunol. 2021 Jan;22(1):2-6.
M. tuberculosis Reprograms Hematopoietic Stem Cells to Limit Myelopoiesis and Impair Trained Immunity
Khan N, Downey J, Sanz J, Kaufmann E, Blankenhaus B, Pacis A, Pernet E, Ahmed E, Cardoso S, Nijnik A, Mazer B, Sassetti C, Behr MA, Soares MP, Barreiro LB, Divangahi M. Cell. 2020 Oct 29;183(3):752-770.e22
Editorial: Evolving Mechanisms of Disease Tolerance
King IL, Divangahi M. Front Immunol. 2019 Dec 20;10:2974.
Leukotriene B4-type I interferon axis regulates macrophage-mediated disease tolerance to influenza infection
Pernet E, Downey J, Vinh DC, Powell WS, Divangahi M. Nat Microbiol. 2019 Aug;4(8):1389-1400.
BCG Educates Hematopoietic Stem Cells to Generate Protective Innate Immunity against Tuberculosis
Kaufmann E, Sanz J, Dunn JL, Khan N, Mendonça LE, Pacis A, Tzelepis F, Pernet E, Dumaine A, Grenier JC, Mailhot-Léonard F, Ahmed E, Belle J, Besla R, Mazer B, King IL, Nijnik A, Robbins CS, Barreiro LB, Divangahi M. Cell. 2018 Jan 11;172(1-2):176-190.e19.
View Maziar Divangahi’s recent posts and news:
May 15, 2023: Leonardo Jurado & Hilary Hendin
May 15, 2023 Work in Progress: Leonardo Jurado (PhD with Maziar Divangahi) and Hilary Hendin (PDF with Gregory Fonseca)
Prenatal programming of alveolar macrophages by neutrophils needed for lung health
Publication in Nature by Maziar Divangahi and colleagues shows that the production of eicosanoids by neutrophils is required for reprogramming alveolar macrophages
Spring 2022 Student Awards
Congratulations to the recipients of FRQS and CIHR studentship and fellowship awards! We wish you much success!
BCG vaccine provides protection against influenza virus but not SARS-CoV-2
Maziar Divangahi and his research team are surprised to discover that BCG provides protection against respiratory infections but not SARS-CoV-2.
International Rare Disease Day: Alex’s Story
At the Meakins-Christie Laboratories, we care about rare diseases. Read Alexandre Grant’s interview on his rare disease diagnosis.
Muscular dystrophy and trained immunity
Basil Petrof, MD, and his research team, have uncovered a new mechanism of inflammation in muscular dystrophy, paving the way for the development of new therapies.
Gordon A. Maclachlan Convocation Prize
Congratulations to Jeffrey Downey, PhD student of Dr. Divangahi, recipient of the Gordon A. Maclachlan Convocation Prize.
Confusion over COVID vaccine priority list
Alexander Grant, MSc student in Dr. Divangahi’s lab, advocates for others to be prioritized for a COVID-19 vaccine.
Three CIHR Grants Awarded!
Congrats to Maziar Divangahi and Faiz Ahmad Khan on their Fall 2020 Project Grants and Benjamin M Smith on his COPD Catalyst Grant
Flu Vaccines and COVID-19
Dr. Maziar Divangahi on how flu vaccines can help train our body’s immunity to fight the COVID-19 virus.
Cracking the Code of Stem Cells in TB
Congratulations to Dr. Nargis Khan and Jeffrey Downey from the Divangahi lab on their recent publication in Cell!
Innate Disease Tolerance and COVID-19
Could Dr. Divangahi’s expertise in innate disease tolerance be applied to the SARS CoV-2 virus, enabling us to co-exist?
Flu Vaccines May Inhibit COVID-19
Dr. Divangahi discusses ongoing studies that examine whether flu vaccines may inhibit COVID-19.
Royal Society of Canada Class of 2020
The Royal Society of Canada announces Dr. Maziar Divangahi as one of its newest members to the College of New Scholars
COVID-19 and Disease Tolerance
Dr. Irah King discusses disease tolerance in light of the recent COVID-19 pandemic and why some weather the infection unscathed
Defeating SARS-CoV-2: A Team Effort
Dr. Maziar Divangahi asserts that only a team effort across scientific disciplines will lead to the elimination of SARS-CoV-2.
Using β-glucan to help fight TB Infection
Dr. Nargis Khan and Dr. Eva Kaufmann from the Divangahi lab publish their work in Cell Reports
Five CIHR Project Grants awarded!
Congratulations to all Meakins and RECRU members who were funded in the Fall 2019 Project Grant Competition!
Contact Information
Meakins-Christie Laboratories
RI-MUHC, Block E
Office EM2.2248
Lab E03.2371
1001 Decarie Blvd.
Montreal QC H4A 3J1
Canada
Tel: 514-934-1934 Ext. 76237 (lab)
Tel: 514-934-1934 Ext. 76413 (office)
Tel: 514-934-1934 Ext. 76172 (admin)
Fax: 514-933-3962
E-Mail: maziar.divangahi [at] mcgill.ca
Education & Training
BSc (Biol) McMaster, 2000
PhD (Immunol), McGill, 2005
PDF (Inf Dis), McMaster, 2007
PDF (Innate Immunity), McGill, 2008
PDF (Macrophage Death), Harvard, 2010
Teaching
Biochemical Pathology (Cytokine biology), PATH 607