RESEARCH & DISCOVERIES
Current Areas of Study
AGING B-1 CELL DEVELOPMENT AND FUNCTION IN THE CONTEXT OF BIOLOGICAL SEX
Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common cause of pneumonia, which claims the lives of people over 65 seven times more frequently than those aged 5-49. B-1 cells provide immediate and essential protection from S. pneumoniae through the production of natural antibodies. Our research aims to understand the mechanism of how B-1 cells and the natural antibodies they produce change with age in the context of biological sex. We study these sex-based changes in relation to B-1 cell development into old age.
B-1 CELL FUNCTION IN SICKLE CELL DISEASE
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is among the most common blood disorders affecting millions worldwide. One of the major causes of death for those with SCD is infection, in particular, Streptococcus pneumoniae infection. Children with SCD are 600 times more likely to become infected with S. pneumoniae than healthy children. Despite current interventions such as prophylactic antibiotics and vaccination, pneumococcal infection still poses a great risk to sickle cell patients. Our current studies aim to understand whether B-1 cells and the protective antibodies they produce are altered in sickle cell disease.
EFFECT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS ON B-1 CELL DEVELOPMENT AND HOMEOSTASIS
The environment in which B cells function can be influenced by intrinsic factors such as age, sex, disease, and genetics, as well as other extrinsic factors affecting metabolic functioning (e.g. fasting). We are interested in understanding how intrinsic and extrinsic environmental factors impact the development, maintenance, and function of B-1 cells into old age. Our previous studies have examined the role of the microbiome in B-1 cell maintenance while ongoing studies are focused on how genetic background and fasting impact B-1 cell biology.
