🦠 Human T cell responses to respiratory virus infection
CD4+ and CD8+ T cells are critical for protection from infection with respiratory viruses. Our laboratory studies the characteristics and function of human T cells that recognize respiratory viruses during acute infection. We recruit human subjects who are acutely infected with seasonal influenza and SARS-CoV-2 to study their T cell responses found in the blood, the lung and in the upper respiratory tract.
💉 Human T cell responses to vaccination
Vaccinations are the most effective tools that we have to prevent serious infectious diseases. Our laboratory looks at unique CD4+ T cells known at T follicular helper cells which coordinate with B cells in the lymph node to enhance the circulating and long-lived antibody response to vaccination. By studying these T follicular helper cell responses in the human lymph node, we learn more about how to enhance future vaccines to take full advantage of the potential of this powerful component of the human immune response.
The lab also studies the generation of vaccine-induced protective CD8+ T cell responses. These T cells can provide protective immunity when initial lines of immune system defense, such as neutralizing antibodies, are overwhelmed by a pathogen. Highly effective human vaccines, such as the Yellow Fever Virus vaccine and the Vaccinia vaccine, are known to generate these T cell responses. Understanding how these immune cells localize to barrier tissues such as the lung and the skin following vaccination may help improve the design of future vaccines.
