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?
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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.
The program project grant "Mechanisms of Peripheral Induction of T-cell Tolerance" is funded for another 5 years
Since 1993, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has awarded Investigators within the Center for Immunology the ability to examine CD4 and CD8 T cell tolerance mechanisms at the cellular and molecular levels. The program project is titled "Mechanisms of Peripheral Induction of T-cell Tolerance" and the program which is led by Dr. Kris Hogquist includes five projects that will focus on distinct but complementary aspects of tolerance: natural MHCII-bound self epitope discovery, polyclonal anergic cells, type I interferons, non-deletional CD8+ T cell tolerance, and hybrid self-peptides. The relevance of this project focuses on the mechanisms of immune tolerance, with hopes that the results of these studies could lead to new methods for diagnosing diabetes and monitoring immunotherapy. The Center for Immunology would like to congratulate the Jenkins, Jameson, Hogquist, Fife and Mueller labs on their continued success as they start another 5 years of research on developing an increased understanding of T cell tolerance for the prevention or treatment of autoimmune diseases.
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.
Dr. Borges da Silva awarded an NIH Pathway to Independence Award
CFI would like to congratulate Dr. Henrique Borges da Silva from the Jameson lab, he has been awarded an NIAID research grant to support his work. This fellowship aims to harness a strong cohort of new NIH-supported independent investigators. K99/R00 awardees receive support for independent projects and facilitate their transition to tenure-track or equivalent faculty positions. Henrique will work on the project: "Defining the function of extracellular ATP sensing for memory CD8+ T cell generation and longevity", and will seek to better understand how the "danger signal" eATP controls the long-term establishment of CD8 T cell memory.
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 at the event!Research ethics at the University of Minnesota
We are committed to protecting research participants, upholding ethical standards, and improving our practice at every step of our work.
Announcements
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Tea and Talk!!
every Monday and Thursday
2:30 p.m. | 2-163 WMBB
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November 18
Immunology Journal Club
Upasana Arvindam-Miller Lab
9:00-10:00 a.m.| 2-115 CCRB
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Luis Martinez-Sobrido, Ph.D.
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY
“In vivo reverse genetics”
“Hypertension and the Maladaptive Immune Response.”
1:45-2:45 p.m.| 1-125 CCRB_____________________________
November 19
Cancer Center Seminar Series
Dipak Panigrahy, MD, PhD
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard University
"Cancer Progression: Failure of Resolution of Inflammation and Tumor Debris?"
9:00-10:00 a.m. | 1-125 CCRB
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Infection and Immunity Research Conference
**next meeting held on Dec. 10, 2019**
12:00-1:00 p.m.| 1-101 MRF
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November 20
Immunology Supergroup
Open
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November 21
MICaB Student Seminar Series
Upasana Arvindam
“Improving NK cell function in the solid tumor micro environment”
12:00-1:00 p.m.| 1-110 LRB/MTRF
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November 25
Immunology Journal Club
Holiday-No Seminar
9:00-10:00 a.m.| 2-115 CCRB
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Holiday-No Seminar
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November 26
Cancer Center Seminar Series
Holiday-No Seminar
9:00-10:00 a.m. | 1-125 CCRB
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Infection and Immunity Research Conference
**next meeting held on Dec. 10, 2019
12:00-1:00 p.m.| 1-101 MRF
November 27
Immunology Supergroup
Holiday-No Seminar
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November 28
MICaB Student Seminar Series
Holiday-No Seminar
12:00-1:00 p.m.| 1-110 LRB/MTRF
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Looking for a place to write?
If you are writing and need a quiet place to gather your thoughts, we have a spot for you.
See Annette Bethke, 2-142 WMBB to check out the office key.