Ep. 77: “Computational and Translational Immunology” Featuring Dr. Caleb Lareau
Apr 23, 2024
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Dr. Caleb Lareau discusses bioinformatics and immunology, focusing on herpesvirus reactivation in CAR T cells. The podcast also highlights the upcoming IMMUNOLOGY2024 event in Chicago and various research topics such as blocking lung injury in influenza and intestinal barrier defense.
Integrating bioinformatics tools enhances immunology research by driving experimental hypotheses from vast datasets.
Data science expertise revolutionizes immunology practices by fostering hypotheses derived from extensive data analysis.
Efficient data pipelines are crucial for managing vast immunology datasets, requiring specialized software configurations and parallel processing.
Deep dives
Dr. Caleb LaRue's perspective on using bioinformatics in immunology research
Dr. Caleb LaRue emphasizes the importance of leveraging bioinformatics and data analysis tools in immunology research. He highlights how the integration of data-driven approaches and informatics has become a distinctive feature of his research program. By starting with a wealth of data, Dr. LaRue and his team generate hypotheses that can be experimentally tested, illustrating the power of using informatics to drive biological inquiries. He encourages researchers to focus on specific problems that motivate hypotheses, leading to a natural acquisition of bioinformatics skills to address these questions.
The Impact of Data Science Expertise in Dr. Caleb LaRue's Research
Dr. Caleb LaRue underscores the significance of data science expertise in advancing his research endeavors. He discusses how the strategic use of informatics has transformed the standard practices in immunology, enabling the generation of hypotheses driven by large datasets. By emphasizing the partnership between data analysis and experimental validation, Dr. LaRue showcases the critical role of data-driven research in decoding complex biological mechanisms.
Challenges and Necessity of Data Pipelines in Immunology Research
Dr. Caleb LaRue explains the importance of efficient data pipelines in handling the vast amounts of information generated in immunology research. He distinguishes the engineering aspect of managing substantial data volumes efficiently through parallel processing and sequential tasks, emphasizing the need for specialized software and hardware configurations. By tackling the challenge of processing massive datasets smartly, researchers can derive meaningful insights and propel scientific discoveries in the field of computational immunology.
Developing Core Skills in Bioinformatics
Learning to interact with computers and perform software executions is essential in bioinformatics. This skill can be acquired by tackling specific tasks, such as analyzing nucleic acid presence in genomes. The second critical skill, often challenging for biologists, involves applying statistical and critical thinking to analyze high-dimensional datasets.
Analyzing Herpes Virus Reactivation in CAR T Cell Therapies
The investigation into herpes virus reactivation in CAR T cell therapies highlights the importance of connecting clinical observations with genomic data. By exploring sequencing datasets, insights into viral activity and mechanisms are uncovered. The integration of genomic approaches with clinical knowledge can help understand viral infection dynamics and potential therapeutic interventions.
Dr. Caleb Lareau is an Assistant Professor at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. His lab aims to understand how cells in our bodies adapt, expand, and evolve during the course of our lives, particularly in the immune system. He talks about cross-training in bioinformatics and immunology, and herpesvirus reactivation in CAR T cells.
Intestinal Barrier Defence – Citrobacter rodentium targets a subset of absorptive intestinal epithelial cells in the mid–distal colon, which stimulate T cells to produce sustained IL-22 signals to mitigate further spread of the pathogen.
Fast-Acting Glucocorticoids – The anti-inflammatory properties of glucocorticoids involve reprogramming of the mitochondrial metabolism of macrophages.
, happening May 3-7 in Chicago!
