The Immunology Podcast

Guest: Dr. Michael Rosenblum is a Professor of Dermatology at the University of California, San Francisco. His lab seeks to to understand how immune responses are regulated in tissues and how this knowledge can be exploited for therapeutic benefit. They are currently investigating how regulatory T cells (Tregs) control immune responses in tissues, as well as their “alternative” functions. He talks about early-life inflammation and type 2 helper T cells in the skin, and how Tregs can be manipulated to target autoimmune diseases and cancer. Featured Products and Resources: Stay up-to-date with the latest in immune regulation news. Download the cell separation e-book, a practical guide on everything you need to know about cell isolation techniques. The Immunology Science Round Up Tissue-Resident Memory T Cells in the Brain – After viral brain infection, tissue-resident memory T cells triggered central nervous system inflammation, promoting autoimmune reactions in mice. Suppressing HIV with Antibodies – Anti-HIV-1 antibodies can maintain viral suppression and may accelerate viral reservoir decay. Enhancing Hepatitis B Therapeutic Vaccine Responses – Natural killer cell depletion enhanced T cell responses to a chimp adenoviral vectored hepatitis B virus. CAR T Cell Cytotoxicity in Glioblastoma – Researchers found that interferon gamma signaling is crucial for proper engagement and killing of solid tumors by CAR T cells. Image courtesy of Dr. Michael Rosenblum Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Dr. Gary Koretzky, President of AAI, discusses his career, guiding Cornell's COVID-19 response, and AAI's upcoming conference. Topics include circular RNA vaccines for SARS-CoV-2 variants, CD20+ T cells in MS, neutrophils in wound healing, and spinal microglia in pain recovery.

Dr. Florian Krammer discusses shifting research to COVID-19, vaccine strategies, and future pandemic readiness. Topics include gut microbiome impact on immune therapy, fungal strains in IBD, skull bone marrow's role in brain immunity, and transitioning from influenza to COVID-19 research.

Dr. Andy Kokaji and Dr. Hannah Lee from STEMCELL Technologies discuss their career paths and product development processes. They touch on topics like mRNA boosters, B cell suppression in maternal tolerance, and using data analysis tools for predicting disease outcomes. The podcast also covers Stem Cell Technologies, transitioning from academia to industry, and the growth of the company in the immunology industry.

Guest: Dr. Jennifer Gommerman is a Professor of Immunology at the University of Toronto. Her team has uncovered a novel gut-brain axis that regulates neuroinflammation and is examining the role of B lymphocytes in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients and in animal models of MS. More recently, she has been studying the antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 in saliva samples from patients with COVID-19. Featured Products and Resources: Keep current with the latest immune regulation research. Explore scientific resources for your immunology research at the STEMCELL Technologies immunology learning center. The Immunology Science Round Up Neutralizing Antibody Responses to Omicron – SARS-CoV-2-specific immunity wanes over time after two mRNA vaccine doses. Determining T Cell Fate – Researchers identified T cell antigen receptor sequence features that promote regulatory T cell fate. Fungi in the Gut – Mucosa-associated fungi protect mice against intestinal injury and infection via interleukin-22-dependent mechanisms. T Cells in Glioblastomas – T cell dysfunction in the glioblastoma microenvironment is mediated by myeloid cells releasing interleukin-10. Image courtesy of Dr. Jennifer Gommerman Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Dr. Caetano Reis e Sousa discusses dendritic cells, cross-presentation mechanisms, RNA interference, dendritic cell progenitors in influenza. The podcast also covers T-cell reactivity to Omicron, CAR T-cell therapy success, vimentin's role in SARS-CoV-2 entry, CRISPR in T-cell engineering, IKZF3 gene regulation in interferon production, and the continuum of science, art, and humanities.

Guest: Dr. Francesco Colucci is a Wellcome Investigator and Professor of Immunology at the University of Cambridge. His research focuses on natural killer (NK) and other innate lymphoid cells, as well as immunogenetics. He talks about uterine NK cells and their education, and falling in love with research as a physician. Featured Products and Resources: Explore scientific resources for your immunology research at the STEMCELL Technologies immunology learning center. Use EasySepTM to isolate highly purified immune cells in as little as 8 minutes. The Immunology Science Round Up A Link between Epstein-Barr Virus and Multiple Sclerosis – Researchers used data from millions of US military recruits to determine that Epstein-Barr infection increased the risk of multiple sclerosis. Nano-Sponges to Treat Inflammation – Nanodecoys coated with a macrophage membrane scavenged pro-inflammatory cytokines in autoimmune disease models. How Epstein-Barr Infection Triggers Multiple Sclerosis – Scientists showed that molecular mimicry between an Epstein-Barr virus protein and a neuronal molecule in Multiple sclerosis patients contributes to neuroinflammation. The Immunoregulatory Landscape of Tuberculosis – Researchers identified how cellular composition and immunoregulatory pathways in tuberculosis granulomas relate to peripheral immune responses. Image courtesy of Dr. Francesco Colucci Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Mihai Netea is a Professor of Experimental Medicine at Radboud University Nijmegen and a Professor of Immunometabolism at the University of Bonn. He discusses the mechanisms of trained immunity, transmission of immune traits across generations via epigenetics, and how some vaccines can enhance immunity to other pathogens. Featured Products and Resources: Keep current with the latest in human immunology news. Use EasySepTM to isolate highly purified immune cells in as little as 8 minutes. The Immunology Science Round Up Fc-Mediated Responses to SARS-CoV-2 – mRNA vaccination, but not infection, produced spike antibodies that maintained Fc receptor binding to SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern. A Nasal Vaccine for Tuberculosis – An adenovirus-vectored tuberculosis vaccine induced airway tissue-resident memory CD4 and CD8 T cells. Behavioral Immune Landscapes of Inflammation – Researchers used 4D live imaging to obtain behavioral descriptors of individual cells and build behavioral landscapes. Platelet Aggregation in Sepsis – Scientists showed that inhibiting NFAT in activated mouse and human platelets enhanced their aggregation. Image courtesy of Dr. Mihai Netea Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Dr. De’Broski Herbert discusses IL-33 secretion, TREM-2 in COVID-19, and mucosal immunity. Topics include nasal flu vaccines, T cell recognition of Omicron variant, and anthrax depolymerase. The podcast also explores vacation plans, physiological differences in children at high altitudes, and dream professions outside of science.

Dr. Keke Fairfax, an Associate Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, discusses the intriguing impacts of helminth infections on immune responses, particularly how they can impair childhood vaccination effectiveness. She highlights her research on Schistosoma mansoni and its use in studying IL-4 induced immuno-modulation. Additionally, Keke emphasizes the importance of mentorship for minority scientists in STEM, sharing insights on diversity and inclusion within academia. The conversation blends scientific discovery with personal experiences in the pursuit of equity in research.