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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Naive B Cells with High-Avidity Germline-EncodedAntigen Receptors Produce Persistent IgM+andTransient IgG+Memory B Cells
Immune memory often lasts for life, this is not the case for certain vaccines in some individuals. By studying B cell responses to phycoerythrin, in the June 2018 issue of Immunity, Pape et al. find that memory B cell responses can be shortlived when generated from precursors that experience unusually strong early signals of avid antigen binding via germline-encoded VH elements. Read more
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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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Thymic regulatory T cells arise via two distinct developmental programs
The developmental programs that generate a broad repertoire of regulatory T cells (Treg cells) able to respond to both self-antigens and non-self antigens remain unclear. Here the Farrar lab et al. found that mature Treg cells were generated through two distinct developmental programs involving CD25+ Treg cell progenitors and Foxp3lo Treg cell progenitors (Foxp3lo TregP cells). Read more
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Chrysalis: A New Method for High-Throughput Histo-Cytometry Analysis of Images and Movies
Advances in imaging have led to the development of powerful multispectral, quantitative imaging techniques, like histo-cytometry. The utility of this approach is limited, however, by the need for time-consuming manual image analysis. In an effort to address the time issue, Kotov and Pengo et al. created the software Chrysalis along with a suite of Imaris Xtensions to batch image processing and analysis to automate the processing workflow for confocal, epi-fluorescence, and two-photon microscopy images. Read more
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Dual TCR T Cells: Identity Crisis or Multitaskers?
Latest News
Wondering about COVID-19 research and news...
UMN and Mayo researchers working on ELISA test to determine COVID-19 immunity
CFI director Dr. Marc Jenkins explains how the University of Minnesota and Mayo Clinic are close to unveiling antibody tests that can determine if people have already been infected by the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 and are no longer threats to get or spread the infection. To read the entire Star Tribue article from March 30, 2020 click here.
Local media interviews:
COVID-19 Vaccine on fast track
The Star Tribune's Christopher Snowbeck and CFI's Director Marc Jenkins talk about "a whole new approach to vaccines" using viral RNA instead of the way current vaccines are produced using a weakened or killed form of a virus to stimulate an immune system response that produces antibodies. To read the entire Star Tribune article click here.
For the most up to date information please use the link above. Please see the following guidance specifically about labs.
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Congratulations to 2 of CFI's outstanding Ph.D. Graduate Students!
Ben Brian is the winner of the 2020 Pharmacology Graduate StudentTanya FreedmanRheumatology Future Physician Scientist Award from the Rheumatology Research Foundation. This award provides support for MD/Ph.D. students who demonstrate outstanding potential and significant commitment to a career in rheumatology research. Congratulations Ben and Phil on their well-deserved success.
AAI bestows their highest honor the Lifetime Achievement Award to Dr. Marc Jenkins
The American Association of Immunologists (AAI) has bestowed their highest honor on Dr. Marc Jenkins. The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes a deserving AAI member for a career of scientific achievement and for contributions to AAI and fellow immunologists and to the field of immunology. Dr. Jenkins will be honored at the annual AAI Immunology Meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii from May 8-12, 2020. For more information on all of Dr. Jenkins's achievements go here. CFI would like to extend our congratulations and thank Dr. Jenkins for his guidance and leadership as well as the inspiration he inspires as a teacher, mentor, and scientist to those not only at our University but worldwide.
Dr. David Masopust received the 2019 Dean's Distinguished Research Lectureship
The annual Dean’s Distinguished Research Lectureship honors up to two outstanding faculty members who are selected to share their research stories which detail the state of the science when they entered the field, changes that emerged due to their work, and plans or predictions for the future of medicine and basic science research. On Wednesday, November 13, 2019, Dr. David Masopust and Dr. Melissa Geller were honored along with the Wall of Scholarship Honorees. To read more about the event: click here or to watch the event: click here
The UMN Impact of Medicine Series showcases Dr. Marc Jenkins
Considered to be one of the countries high performing medical school, the University of Minnesota believes that promoting and rewarding a culture of excellence is key in maintaining high standards. One way of displaying specifically how we impact medicine is to showcase those who exemplify the mission. This month Dr. Marc Jenkins was showcased, in an interview about how he has sought and discovered answers about our world through science. For the full interview and video, link here.
Fox 9 News highlights the work in the Masopust lab to develop a potential HIV vaccine
Under the direction of Dr. David Masopust, researchers in the Center for Immunology are working on an HIV vaccine. Currently studying the effect on primates the vaccine tests a part of the immune system that’s usually not targeted for the vaccine - the cell types that Masopust says are considered the body’s first responders- CD8+ T cells. While testing on humans may not start for several more years the current test results are encouraging. For more information on this story see Fox9News or for more info on the current projects of the Masopust lab, click here.
CFI's Alex Khoruts is quoted by NBC News
On October 24, 2019, NBC news quoted Dr. Alex Khoruts in regards to how sun exposure can affect your microbiome. Here is the full NBC article, to read more about Dr. Khorut's own work with FMTs click here for an interview done by Steve LeBeau for the magazine Global Advances in Health and Medicine.
The Center for Immunology proudly hosted its first-ever Alumni Celebration
On Thursday, April 18, 2019, the Center for Immunology hosted its first Alumni Celebration. The event welcomed over 100 current faculty and students, alumni, professors and more. We were especially happy to welcome Drs. David Brown, Gus Dalmasso, Paul Quie and John Crosson who made special trips to campus just for the occasion of the reunion. At the event, the Robert A. Good Door was presented (see photos) and will be hung at the Center for Immunology. Drs. Marc Jenkins and Matt Mescher also announced the creation of a new fund to enhance the student experience within the Center. The Mescher Trainee Enhancement fund, an endowed fund, will live in perpetuity at the University of Minnesota and will be available to the Center for Immunology's students. The fund will help with costs like conference registration and travel, equipment and technology, emergency needs and other expenses which can make all the difference in training the next generation of scientists. To date, $60,000 has been raised with a goal of $100,000. If you were interested in making a gift, and have not done so yet - or were unable to attend the event but still want to support the CFI while honoring Dr. Mescher -visit the fund here. You may also contact Sarah Barsness at the University of Minnesota Foundation if you'd like to make a gift using your IRA, estate plans, donor-advised fund, or other means of charitable giving. Sarah's contact information is 612-625-5976 or sbarsnes@umn.edu. Please click here to see all the great pictures taken Join CFI on Twitter
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COVID-19 Discussion Group
Topic: Drugs for COVID-19: Viral Pathogenesis, Drug Discovery, Remdesevir, and Hydroxychloroquine
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April 6
Red Seminar
The New Normal: Communicating Science Online
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Immunology Journal Club
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Canceled until Fall 2020
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Cancer Center Seminar Series
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