The Center for Immunology is an interdisciplinary research program at the University of Minnesota devoted to advancing the field of immunology and educating future immunologists.
Autoimmunity • Cancer • Vaccines • Cures
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Intravital mucosal imaging of CD8+ resident memory T cells shows tissue-autonomous recall responses that amplify secondary memory
Using two-photon intravital microscopy to visualize the responses of CD8+ resident memory T cells (Trm cells), Post Doctoral fellows in Masopust, Vezys, and Fife labs found that the Trm cells were highly motile but would pause and undergo in situ division after antigen challenge. Read more
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Co-housing with pet store mice changes the immune system of laboratory mice
Nature highlights the work of Lalit Beura, Sara Hamilton, Marc Jenkins, Vaiva Vezys, Steve Jameson, Dave Masopust, et.al. and their evidence of how laboratory rodents can skew immunology research but that "dirty mice" can clean up the results Read more
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Cutting Edge: Dual TCRa Expression Poses an Autoimmune Hazard by Limiting Regulatory T cell Generation
In cutting edge research performed by the students and Post Doctoral fellows in the labs of Fife, Hogquist and Binstadt the hypothesis that dual TCR expression can promote autoimmunity by limiting agonist selection of self-reactive thymocytes is revisited . Read more
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The purinergic receptor P2RX7 directs metabolic fitness of long-lived memory CD8+ T cells
In an article published July 2018 in Nature postdoctoral fellows in the Jameson and Masopust labs, Drs. Borges da Silva and Beura, et al. show that P2RX7 is required for the establishment, maintenance and functionality of long-lived central and tissue-resident memory CD8+ T cell populations in mic. Read more
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CD8αα+ Intraepithelial Lymphocytes Arise from Two Major Thymic Precursors
In an article published in Nature Immunology, Post Doctoral Fellows Ruscher and Lee from the Hogquist and Jameson lab wanted to better define the thymic IEL precursor, and were able to provide an important foundation for understanding the biology of CD8αα IELs. Read More
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CD301b/MGL2+ Mononuclear Phagocytes Orchestrate Autoimmune Cardiac Valve Inflammation and Fibrosis
CD301b/MGL2+ MNP's are key drivers of autoimmune MVD in K/B.g7 mice and in human RHD. Research led by MSTP student Lee Meier in the lab of Dr. B. Binstadt define key inflammatory molecules that drive MVD in hopes of identifying potential therapeutic targets for clinical use. Read More
Latest News
"Science is a team sport...but one contribution can be a game changer for the field of T cell immunology" Jeffery Bluestone
In the July 2018 issue of Nature Reviews Immunology, Jeffery Bluestone recalls his first meeting with a dedicated postdoc in Ron Schwartz’s lab at the NIH. This encounter with Marc Jenkins changed the way that Bluestone viewed T cell tolerance. In the article, Bluestone notes that key discoveries made by Jenkins have led to the discovery of cell surface molecules that turn off activated T cells. These findings have given rise to the field of checkpoint inhibition leading to the development of therapies for autoimmunity, cancer, and transplantation. Read more...
Dr. Marc Jenkins, director of the Center for Immunology, is named a University of Minnesota Regents Professor
The Center for Immunology would like to congratulate Dr. Marc Jenkins, as he is bestowed one of the University of Minnesota's highest honors, the Regents Professorship. This program not only recognizes the national and international prominence of the faculty member, but it also acknowledges the exceptional contributions that have been made to the University through teaching, research, scholarship, creative work, and collaboration with others.
Dr. Jenkins exemplifies all the characteristics of a Regents Professor and is one of the world’s most distinguished immunologists. Dr. Jenkins will be honored at the Board of Regents meeting on Friday, September 14, 2018.
'Dirty Mouse’ Colony Converts to a Core Facility
In 2015, the Dirty Mouse Colony was formed to fill the needs of researchers interested in enabling the transfer of microorganisms from dirty mice to the standard SPF mouse. This facility can house your specific laboratory strains of mice with mice which carry numerous microbes, allowing you to pursue experiments in this unique model. Animals are housed in a BSL-3 containment facility which includes a stand-alone research suite with secure access through a common ante-room. The core is now open to all researchers at the University of Minnesota on a fee-for-use basis. Contact Sara Hamilton Hart (hamil062@umn.edu) if you are interested in taking advantage of this unique resource. For more info click here.
Dr. Sara Hamilton-Hart awarded the 2018 Careers in Immunology Fellowship by the American Association of Immunologists (AAI)
Dr. Sara Hamilton Hart has been awarded an American Association of Immunologists 2018 Careers in Immunology Fellowship. The fellowship supports the career development of young scientists by providing eligible PIs with one year of salary support for a trainee in their lab. Postdoctoral trainee, Dr. Mathew Huggins will receive salary support for his work on the effect of previous immune experience on T cell functionality and how this alters the ability to respond to new challenges in Hamilton Hart’s laboratory. Congratulations to both Drs. Hamilton Hart and Huggins.
Registration is open for Chainbreaker18
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We are committed to protecting research participants, upholding ethical standards, and improving our practice at every step of our work.
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Tea and Talk!!
every Monday and Thursday
2:30 p.m. | 2-163 WMBB
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August 13
Immunology Journal Club
Emily Truckenbrod- Jameson Lab
9:00-10:00 a.m. | 2-115 CCRB
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August 14
Series begins again September 2018
9:00-10:00 a.m. | 1-125 CCRB
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August 14
Conferences begin again September 11, 2018
12:00-1:00 p.m. | 2-224 CCRB (lunch provided)
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August 15
Langlois lab
1:30-2:30 p.m. | 1-125 CCRB
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August 20
Immunology Journal Club
Masopust Lab
9:00-10:00 a.m. | 2-115 CCRB
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August 21
Special Seminar
Dr. Alexandra Pernis
August 13
Medical Student Summer Research presentations
1:30-2:30 p.m. | 1-125 CCRB
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See Annette Bethke, 2-142 WMBB to check out the office key.