Immunology and Infectious Disease
Iannis E Adamopoulos BSc(Hons), M.Phil, D.Phil
Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology
School of Medicine, University of California at Davis
Osteoimmunology (see also: biochemistry, dermatology, translational research and osteoimmunology)
Our laboratory studies the interface between the skeletal and immune systems, a newly emerging area of research called “osteoimmunology”. Haematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow give rise to both T cells which are important in inflammation and osteoclasts that regulate bone resorption. Differentiation and activation of osteoclasts from their precursors is tightly regulated by cytokines and growth factors such as receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa beta (RANKL), tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and various interleukins. Receptor engagement of these molecules results in signaling cascades and transcriptional changes that give rise to medical conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis and osteopetrosis. Using in vivo gene transfer of immune cytokines IL-23 and IL-17, we have established new arthritis animal models that highlight the importance of these immune cytokines in arthritis initiation and bone homeostasis. Using in vitro assays, we continue our attempts to define the cellular and molecular mechanisms that take place in this fascinating interplay of the immune and skeletal systems.
For more information, please contact Dr IE Adamopoulos or visit his faculty profile page.
Andreas J. Baumler, PhD
SOM: Medical Microbiology and Immunology (see also: Microbiology, GI Physiology/Gastroenterology)
I am a microbiologist interested in the interaction of enteric pathogens with their hosts. We use mouse models to study Salmonella pathogenesis and host response. The main goals of this work are to interrogate mechanisms that enable typhoidal Salmonella serovars, such as Salmonella typhi, to evade innate immune recognition and mechanisms that enable non-typhoidal Salmonella serovars, such as Salmonella typhimurium, to take advantage of the host inflammatory response to edge out competing gut microbes. Furthermore, we use day-of-hatch chickens to investigate how Salmonella enteritidis colonizes the infant gut. We are also interested in how the gut microbiota confers colonization resistance against Escherichia coli and other commensal Enterobactericeae and in understanding the pathogenesis of colonic crypt hyperplasia caused by Citrobacter rodentium in mice, which is an animal model for infection with enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC).
Please visit Dr. Baumler's website for more information.
Charles L. Bevins MD, PhD
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine
Our laboratory is interested in innate immunity of mucosal tissues, and we are focused on key effector molecules of host defense: antimicrobial peptides. Antimicrobial peptides are endogenous antibiotics, isolated from diverse species throughout the plant and animal kingdoms. They represent an evolutionary ancient mechanism of host defense. These peptides typically have a broad-spectrum of antimicrobial activity that includes bacteria, fungi and certain viruses. Defensins are the major class of antimicrobial peptides in humans and other mammals. Investigations from our laboratory have discovered that certain defensins are expressed in abundance by epithelial cells at wet mucosal surface. Our studies support a model - antimicrobial peptide constitutes part of an active, early host defense response of challenged epithelial cells. The long-range goal of our research is to understand the specific role that these epithelial antimicrobial peptides play in mucosal innate immunity, including maintaining homeostasis at baseline and responding to challenge by pathogenic microbes. Our current collaborative studies include: (i) characterizing the primary structure and biological activity of the tissue forms defensins, (ii) defining the key regulatory steps for the expression of these molecules, (iii) exploring potential mechanisms of therapeutic modulation of these systems. The investigations include biochemical and molecular biological approaches and analysis of transgenic and other animal models.
Brian Bird DVM, MSPH, PhD
One Health Institute
(see also: Global Health/Projects; Wildlife/Exotic Animal Medicine/Zoonoses)
Dr. Bird is a veterinarian and virologist with expertise in virus ecology and viral hemorrhagic fevers. He has an active research program in California and across Africa investigating zoonotic virus spillover and immunobiology from wildlife especially bats and rodents of high-consequence viruses, pathogen-detection, and the development of countermeasures ranging from vaccines for animal and human use to community-based risk mitigation. STAR student projects could range from laboratory analyses to field ecology depending on student interest and needs of currently funded projects.
Eliza Bliss-Moreau, PhD
Department of Psychology, College of Letters and Sciences
California National Primate Research Center
(See also: Behavior/Animal Welfare, Cardiovascular Biology, Neurology/Neurobiology)
Dr. Bliss-Moreau’s multi-method, multi-level, multi-disciplinary, multi-species research program is focused on understanding the biological mechanisms that generate healthy and unhealthy emotions and social behavior, with the goal of developing new effective treatments and interventions for emotion-related psychopathology and understanding how and why emotions evolved. Her research program adopts a lifespan approach, primarily studying nonhuman primates from infancy through old age – what the Bliss-Moreau Lab refers to as womb-to-tomb affective science. The lab works at levels from cellular neurobiology to the study of social systems (and everything in between). Additionally, the Bliss-Moreau Lab pursues topics related to variation in neural development, both during early development (following viral infection with Zika virus) and in the diseases of old age (namely Alzheimer’s disease).
Dr. Bliss-Moreau can be reached via email at eblissmoreau@ucdavis.edu or visit the lab website for more information.
Terza Brostoff
(see also: Pathology/Virology)
Dr. Brostoff is a board-certified veterinary microbiologist with emphasis in immunology and virology. Her laboratory's current interests include:
- Developing novel diagnostic tests for infectious diseases and cancer
- Developing lipid nanoparticle-encapsulated mRNA vaccines
- Understanding the contribution of extracellular vesicles to viral infection
Potential STAR projects include:
- Validation of a novel diagnostic test for feline coronavirus
- Measuring the T-cell responses to mRNA vaccines
- Analyzing EVs from infected vs. uninfected animals to understand how they may contribute to disease progression
If interested, please email tmbrostoff@ucdavis.edu to discuss further.
Faculty Bio
Jennifer Cassano DVM, PhD
VM: Medicine & Epidemiology
(See also: Translational Research/Regenerative Medicine)
Dr. Cassano is an equine field service clinician in the Department of Medicine & Epidemiology with a 50% clinical appointment in the VMTH. As the director of the Regenerative Medicine Laboratory part of the Veterinary Institute for Regenerative Cures, Dr. Cassano oversees the preparation of all the stem cells used in various clinical trials underway at UC Davis. Her research seeks to better understand how modulation of the immune response can be harnessed in therapeutic treatments, combining the areas of immunology and regenerative medicine. Potential projects include evaluating mesenchymal stem cells antibacterial and antifungal properties in feline, canine, and equine species as well as evaluating mitochondria as a regenerative medicine treatment in osteoarthritis and metabolic disorders. Dr. Cassano hopes to mentor highly motivated students interested in getting involved in clinically oriented research. Students will be involved with all phases of the project, including publication.
For more information and to discuss potential projects please contact Dr. Cassano at jmcassano@ucdavis.edu.
Lillian Cruz-Orengo, Ph.D.
VM: Anatomy, Physiology & Cell Biology
(See also: Neurology, Pharmacology/Toxicology)
My research focuses at the neuroimmune interactions at the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and its role in the neuropathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders, like Multiple Sclerosis (MS). MS is the second leading cause of neurologic deficits in young adults and exhibits a high sex-bias affecting three times more women than men. MS is characterized by the pathologic trafficking of autoreactive-leukocytes into the central nervous system (CNS). We are interested in 1) assessing the contribution of IL-20 cytokine family signaling and 2) the role of sexual dimorphisms at the BBB using the murine MS model Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE). Likewise, we want to 3) assert if Canine Immune-Mediated Encephalitis (CIME) could be characterized as a natural MS model. CIME etiology is elusive but, but there is evidence to suggest that is due to autoimmunity. Lastly, we are in the developing a model 4) to assess changes in brain microvasculature as a result to pesticide exposure using zebrafish. This model will lead to better understanding of the role that environmental factors may play in of BBB disruption and consequently on neurological and neurodevelopmental disorders.
Keywords:
Autoimmunity, sexual bias/dimorphisms, blood-brain barrier, neuroinflammation/neurodegeneration
Dr. Cruz-Orengo can be reached at (530) 752-7318 or cruzorengo@ucdavis.edu.
Jonathan Dear, DVM, MAS, DACVIM (SAIM)
VM: Medicine & Epidemiology
(see also: Microbiology/parasitology, vector borne disease)
Dr. Jonathan Dear is a board-certified small animal internal medicine specialist at the University of California, Davis. A graduate of the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Dear completed his residency at UC Davis. Dr. Dear also completed a master's degree in clinical research at the UC Davis School of Medicine. Dr. Dear's clinical interests include urinary and respiratory medicine, while his research interests also include small animal infectious diseases. Dr. Dear is the current president of the International Society for Companion Animal Infectious Disease.
Possible 10-week research projects:
Investigation of tick vectors in areas where Babesia conradae is endemic
-this project will focus on the epidemiology of B. conradae, a protozoal parasite of domestic and wild canids. Tick vectors have been identified most of the Babesia species affecting humans and small animals, however, a competent tick vector for B. conradae has not been identified. The aim of this project would be to trap and identify both soft and hard ticks in areas of California where B. conradae has been diagnosed. Additionally, the project will aim to identify tick species found on trapped coyotes and work to determine whether they harbor known pathogens of domestic dogs.
Validation of a point-of-care assay for disseminated, invasive aspergillosis
-Aspergillosis can be an invasive fungal disease of dogs and is generally associated with a grave prognosis. At present, diagnosis can be made by either identification of the organism via cytology or histopathology (which requires expertise and/or invasive techniques) or urine or serum tests which must be sent out for interpretation. In this project, a student would work to validate a point-of-care Aspergillus antigen test kit, comparing results to the current gold standard.
Contact information: Jonathan Dear, jddear@ucdavis.edu, 530-752-7133
Rodrigo Gallardo, DVM, PhD, dACPV
Poultry medicine, preventive veterinary medicine, virology (see also: Food Animal Medicine)
My research has been focused in poultry medicine specifically poultry viral diseases and immunology. One of my goals is to use of molecular and conventional virology and preventive veterinary medicine strategies to understand and control poultry diseases. Lately I have been focusing in international poultry work towards village poultry improvement controlling Newcastle disease virus in Central America and Africa.
E-mail: ragallardo@ucdavis.edu
Melanie Gareau, Ph.D.
Microbiota-gut-brain axis
VM: Anatomy, Physiology and Cell Biology
(See also: GI/Gastroenterology, Behavior and Neurology)
Dr. Gareau is a physiologist primarily interested in studying the microbiota-gut-brain axis. It is increasingly being recognized that the microbes that live the gastrointestinal tract, collectively referred to as the intestinal microbiota, can contribute to modulating cognition and mood. The research focus of her laboratory is in determining how manipulating the microbiota within the gut, using models of infection with bacterial pathogens or administration of beneficial probiotic bacteria, can change cognitive function, anxiety, and depression-like behaviors in mouse models of disease. Dr. Gareau has a particular interest in how the microbiota-gut-brain axis responds to stimulation with psychological stressors and under conditions of intestinal inflammation, such as in models of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Ongoing projects in the laboratory include studying behavior in mouse models of IBD and following pathogenic E. coli infection.
If interested, please contact Dr. Gareau: mgareau@ucdavis.edu
Meera Heller DVM, PhD, DACVIM
VM: Medicine & Epidemiology
(See also: Internal Medicine, Food Animal Medicine & Food Safety)
I’m an Assistant Professor of Clinical Livestock Medicine and Surgery (C barn). My research interests lie in the area of immunology and infectious disease, specifically in the areas of innate immune response and juvenile immunity. My research goals are to improve prevention and treatment of calfhood disease, or disease in neonates of any species. My clinical expertise is in internal medicine and surgery of ruminants and swine, and I have a special interest in cattle and goats. Potential research projects include bench-top projects working with bovine bacterial pathogens in the lab, field research on a novel approach to prevention pink eye in cattle, field research to document a vector borne disease in goat populations in northern California, and clinically important retrospective studies using the VMACS database. I am also open to project ideas from students, and am happy to help you craft a research question that fits your interests.
Please contact Dr. Heller via email at mcheller@ucdavis.edu.
Brian Leonard
Department of Surgical & Radiological Sciences
(see also: Opthalmology)
My research focuses on ocular surface health and immunity. I am particularly interested in the factors that promote tear film stability and the pathologies that lead to destabilization and ocular surface disease. Additionally, I am interested in the innate immune system of the ocular surface and the potential for modulating host responses to limit microbial keratitis.
I can be reached at bcleonard@ucdavis.edu for questions.
Jonna Mazet, DVM, MPVM, PhD
(See also: Epidemiology, Global Health, Non-Human Primate Medicine)
Jonna Mazet, DVM, MPVM, PhD, is a Professor of Epidemiology and Disease Ecology and Executive Director of the One Health Institute in the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, where she focuses on global health problem solving, especially for emerging infectious disease and conservation challenges. Dr. Mazet is active in international One Health research programs, most notably in relation to disease transmission among wildlife, domestic animals, and people and the ecological drivers of disease emergence. Currently, she is the Global Director of a $175 million viral emergence early warning project, named PREDICT, that has been developed with the US Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Emerging Pandemic Threats Program. She was elected to the US National Academy of Medicine in 2013 in recognition of her successful and innovative approach to emerging environmental and global health threats.
Contact info: jkmazet@ucdavis.edu
Stephen McSorley, PhD
VM: APC
Dr. McSorley is an immunologist whose research is focused on understanding T and B cell responses to bacterial infections particularly in the intestine and female reproductive tract. The overall goal of these NIH-funded projects is to improve understanding of memory responses in order to develop new vaccines. Specific research projects include: developing a sub-unit vaccine against systemic Salmonella infection; visualizing T cell responses to Chlamydia infection in the reproductive tract; examining innate activation of T cells during bacterial infections. Dr. McSorley also has an ongoing collaborative project with the Center for Companion Animal Health that seeks to develop new biologic therapeutics for canine oncology.
Please email Dr. McSorley for more information or potential STAR projects.
Lisa Miller, PhD
Immunology, respiratory, pediatric
California National Primate Research Center
Dr. Miller's research program is focused on understanding the relationship between early life environmental exposures, immunity and chronic disease. We study how mucosal and systemic immunity is established during infancy, and determine the impact of air pollutants, allergens, and infectious disease on childhood health. A major emphasis has been in the elucidation of mechanisms for immune susceptibility that lead to pediatric airways dysfunction, which may ultimately lead to generation of new diagnostics and preventative medicine. Current research projects that use both in vivo and in vitro approaches include investigation of the airways microbiome during development, epigenetic mechanisms of air pollutants in chronic lung disease, and maturation of innate immune function in airway epithelium.
Please visit Dr. Miller's website at: http://faculty.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/faculty/lmiller/
Victor Nizet, M.D.*
Affiliated with UC Veterinary Medical Center – San Diego
(See also: Microbiology/Parasitology)
Dr. Nizet is a Pediatric Physician-Scientist, Infectious Diseases Specialist and Chief of the Division of Pediatric Pharmacology & Drug Discovery at UCSD School of Medicine and Skaggs School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences. Dr. Nizet leads a large and productive basic and translational research program focused upon the innate immune system, bacterial pathogenesis and the development of new immune-based infectious disease treatment strategies including novel antibiotics, targeted neutralization of bacterial virulence phenotypes, and pharmacologic augmentation of host phagocyte function.
Please contact Peter Ernst pernst@ucsd.edu or Christina Sigurdson csigurdson@ucsd.edu first for more information.
Kent E. Pinkerton, Ph.D.
Professor of Anatomy, Physiology and Cell Biology
(see also: cardiology, pathology/virology, pharmacology/toxicology and pulmonary medicine)
1) To take an innovative approach in addressing air quality issues in dairy and cattle operations by the examination of direct health effects on the cardiopulmonary systems of mice and rats exposed to ambient particles using a concentrator system at the Tulare Veterinary Medicine Teaching and Research Center.
2) To examine the effects of environmental factors (gases and particles in the air) on peri-natal development to affect lung anatomy and pulmonary function in the rat. From conception to adulthood in the rats takes approximately 6 weeks, an easy fit for one summer!
3) To measure heart rate variability as an indicator of change in autonomic control in the mouse exposed to Davis, CA summer particulates.
4) To take a comparative biology approach to elucidate mechanistic environmental pathways leading to increased susceptibility (fetal onset of adult disease).
5) To examine the role of secondhand smoke on increased susceptibility to infection (influenza).
6) To explore the role of metabolomics as an early indicator of disease (asthma, altered immune function, increased susceptibility to infection).
Dr. Pinkerton can be reached via email at kepinkerton@ucdavis.edu.
Krystle Reagan
VM: Medicine & Epidemiology
(see also: Internal Medicine)
Dr. Reagan is a small animal internal medicine specialist with a focus in infectious diseases and a 50% clinical appointment in the VMTH. Her laboratory research focus includes:
- Development and validation of infectious disease diagnostics
- Integration of artificial intelligence into clinical decision making
- Translation of novel therapeutics into clinical trials
Current projects include:
- Development of CRISPR based molecular tools for detection of viral pathogens
- Use of next generation sequencing for detection of bacterial infections
- Validation of artificial intelligence/machine learning algorithms for the prediction of diagnosis and patient outcome
Please feel free to reach out at kreagan@ucdavis.edu to discuss possible STAR projects.
Colin Reardon, Ph.D.
Immunology, IBD, T1D (See also: gastroenterology)
VM: Anatomy, Physiology, & Cell Biology
Dr. Reardon is an immunologist specializing in the regulation of immunology. He is particularly interested in the mechanisms of communication between the nervous and immune systems. Although thought of as disparate fields of study, these two systems have co-evolved and are now appreciated to influence each other. Dr. Reardon’s research focuses on the modification of immune outcomes by neurotransmitters, and on the recently discovered production of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (Ach) by B- and T-cells. Dr. Reardon’s research has previously identified that the commensal microbiota is involved in the regulation of Ach production by these immune cells. . Various projects are currently ongoing in the laboratory that will seek to establish the role of specific neurons in modulating immunopathologies, including inflammatory bowel disease and diabetes. Based on this, testing of small molecule agonists, and neurostimulator devices (in collaboration with biomedical engineers) to modulate immunopathologies will be performed in the laboratory. To accomplish this a variety of complementary techniques will be used including flow cytometry, confocal and intravital microscopy.
If interested, please contact Dr. Reardon creardon@ucdavis.edu.
Hannah Savage, DVM, PhD, DACVM
Assistant Professor of Microbiology
Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology
(see also: Microbiology, Oncology)
The Savage lab studies interactions between pathogens, the microbiota, and host. In particular, I currently focus on how the microbiota promotes a heathy colonocyte immunometabolism and how this interaction is altered during disease, putting the host at risk of infection with pathogens and pathobionts. My overall research goal is to understand the basis behind these host-microbiota interactions during health so that host health can be supported with therapeutics during microbial disruption to prevent a loss of colonization resistance.
Potential projects:
1) Investigate effects of chemotherapy in a mouse model and a potential treatment option to improve outcomes during chemotherapy, focusing on prevention of systemic Candida albicans infection and/or a pilot study looking at improving GI effects of chemotherapy on the intestines. We have previously shown that this treatment reduces the expansion of Candida in an antibiotic-treated mouse model, and we are expanding into cyclophosphamide-treated mice. Potential projects include mouse experiments looking at Candida expansion (necropsy, bacterial plating, tissue collection), RT-PCR analysis of Candida genes, staining/evaluation of histology slides (from mice).
2) Investigate whether high levels of commensal Candida albicans colonization can be protective against other facultative anaerobic infections (likely Salmonella Typhimurium but TBD). We have previously shown that expansion of other facultative anaerobes are protective against Candida albicans expansion. However, there is a genetic mutation in humans, maintained at a relatively high level in the population, that allows for higher Candida colonization, so we are interested in investigating the reverse of the former work. This project would require doing a pilot study in mice (necropsy, bacterial plating, tissue collection), with the potential for additional options such as PCR/RT-PCR, histology slides, or flow cytometry.
3) Investigate the effects of chemotherapy on dog microbiomes. This project would involve collection, Enterobacteriaceae/yeast plating, 16S sequencing, and metabolomic analysis of dog feces during chemotherapy treatment compared to controls. It would require working with collaborators/attending workshops/learning to analyze -omics data, as we have previously outsourced this analysis. Could be done in conjunction with the chemotherapy mouse model, particularly because ability to do 16S sequencing and metabolomics is pending additional funding (samples could still be collected, plated, and DNA isolated in preparation for funding if it is not yet acquired).
Please contact Dr. Savage for more information at hpsavage@ucdavis.edu.
Faculty Bio
Fauna L Smith
Assistant Professor of Livestock Reproduction and Herd Health
VM: Population Health and Reproduction
(see also: Food Animal Medicine/Food Safety, Pathology/Virology)
Dr Smith is an Assistant Professor of Livestock Herd Health and Reproduction. Her expertise is in immunology and infectious disease. Her research interests are in the areas of small ruminant emerging diseases, development and assessment of herd level preventative measures for infectious disease and immune development and sex differences in ruminants. Dr. Smith is boarded in Large Animal Internal Medicine and her clinical focus is small ruminant herd health. Potential research topics include immune characterization of sheep and goats, field research on a novel approach to prevention of gastrointestinal or respiratory diseases of sheep and goats, and bio-surveillance of California's small ruminant populations for emerging infectious diseases.
Dr. Smith can be reached at flsmith@ucdavis.edu.
Jay Solnick, MD, Ph.D.
MED: Infectious Diseases (see also: microbiology)
Center for Comparative Medicine
Dr. Solnick is a microbiologist and infectious disease physician whose research seeks to understand the pathogenesis of Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium that causes peptic ulcers and gastric cancer. There are two major lines of investigation in his laboratory. First, how does the bacterium modify outer membrane proteins and other surface structures to avoid host immunity and persistently colonize the gastric epithelium? Second, what is the role of defensins and other innate immune effectors in the chronic colonization by H. pylori? These and related questions are addressed using a wide range of molecular and biochemical methods, as well as primate and murine animal models.
Please visit Dr. Solnick's website for more information.
Esteban Soto-Martinez, MSc, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVM
VM: Medicine and Epidemiology (See also: Microbiology, Pathology, WIldlife/Zoonoses)
Dr. Esteban Soto is a board certified veterinary microbiologist who has an interest in aquatic animal health. Our laboratory main research interests are to understand the pathogenesis of important infectious diseases of wild and aquatic animals, and to develop strategies to protect animals from these diseases. Members in our laboratory study One Health, Aquatic Animal Disease, and Fish Disease through a combination of microbiological, molecular, and epidemiological methods. Current projects involve studying the ecology, diversity and host-pathogen interaction of Francisella noatunensis, Piscirickettsia salmonis, Veronaea botryosa, Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, Flavobacterium spp., Saprolegnia ferax, Koi herpes virus and other fish pathogens; and studying the ecology, diversity and host-pathogen interaction of hypermucoid Klebsiella pneumoniae in marine mammals.
Please email Dr. Soto-Martinez for more information - sotomartinez@ucdavis.edu
Renée Tsolis
Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine
(see also: microbiology, wildlife/exotics)
Dr. Tsolis is a microbiologist studying host-pathogen interactions leading to disease during infection. Her laboratory uses a variety of animal models to study how two groups of zoonotic pathogens, non-typhoidal Salmonella and zoonotic Brucella species, interact with the immune system to cause disease. For non-typhoidal Salmonella species, Dr. Tsolis' group is interested in learning why underlying co-morbidities such as malaria and malnutrition increase the incidence of death from systemic infection in the developing world, and her laboratory has developed mouse models to gain insight into immunomodulatory effects of Vitamin A deficiency and malaria. For Brucella, the laboratory has developed models to understand both chronic infection that this group of organisms causes within the mononuclear phagocyte system and to interrogate placental infections in pregnant animals that lead to abortion in domestic animals. Collaborations with UCD research Dr. Luckhart in the Medical Microbiology department, Dr. McSorley in the Center for Comparative Medicine and Dr. Stephensen in the USDA Western Human Nutrition Research Center have been instrumental in establishing this interdisciplinary research program. The long-term goal of Dr. Tsolis' work is to uncover basic principles of how bacterial pathogens manipulate the immune response to cause disease and ensure their transmission to the next host.
Please visit Dr. Tsolis' website for more information.
Nissi Varki, M.D.*
Comparative pathology, mouse models of human disease
Affiliated with UC Veterinary Medical Center – San Diego
Director of Histopathology Resources, Cancer and Mouse Histopathology
Professor of Pathology
(See also: Cardiology, Oncology, Pathology/Virology)
Dr. Nissi Varki's research interests include comparative histopathology analysis of genetically altered mice, and models of human diseases including cancer, inflammatory disorders and microbial infections. She is investigating the role of glycosylated molecules in tumor progression and metastasis, including evidence for a human-specific mechanism for diet and antibody-mediated inflammation in human carcinogenesis. Another area of recent exploration is the tissue and species-specific expression of sialic-acid binding lectin receptors known as Siglecs, which play an important role in regulating host innate immune responses and inflammation. Dr. Varki also has a longstanding interest in immunological mechanisms operating at the gastrointestinal mucosal epithelium and their role in chronic colitis and colon cancer development. Dr. Varki serves as Director of the Histopathology Core laboratories Mouse Phenotyping Services at UC San Diego and teaches in the histology and pathology laboratory sessions for medical students, mentors numerous undergraduate students and high school students and serves on the Recruitment and Admissions Committee for the UC San Diego School of Medicine.
Link to Dr. Varki’s current publications
Link to Dr. Varki’s website
*Please contact Peter Ernst pernst@ucsd.edu or Christina Sigurdson csigurdson@ucsd.edu first for more information.