The research in the Laboratory of Immunogenetics (LIG) focuses on the cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie the signaling functions of immune cell receptors. This work encompasses a wide spectrum of experimental approaches from the structural determination of immune receptors to live-cell image analysis of the behavior of chemotactic receptors.
LIG members are highly interactive, creating a unique environment in which structural biology, molecular, and cell biology are interfaced. Interactions within LIG are facilitated by weekly work-in-progress presentations detailing recent advances and future directions of LIG fellows and students.
Research Objectives
- Structure and function of the natural killer (NK) cell inhibitory and activating receptors
- Molecular mechanisms underlying the functions of the FcgammaRIIB receptor
- Signal transduction pathway in chemotaxis mediated by G protein-coupled receptors
- Function of the B-cell antigen receptor in initiating signaling cascades and transporting antigen for processing with the MHC class II molecules
- Structures of components of important pathogens and the cellular receptors with which they interact
People
The Laboratory of Immunogenetics includes the following principal investigators, staff scientists, and/or staff clinicians:
- Silvia Bolland, Ph.D.
Autoimmunity and Functional Genomics Section - Joseph Brzostowki, Ph.D.
Twinbrook Imaging Facility - Peter D. Crompton, M.D., M.P.H.
Malaria Infection Biology and Immunity Section - Tian Jin, Ph.D.
Chemotaxis Signal Section - Victor Lobanenkov, Ph.D.
Molecular Pathology Section - Eric Long, Ph.D.
Molecular and Cellular Immunology Section
- Polly Matzinger, Ph.D.
T-Cell Tolerance and Memory Section - Susan Pierce, Ph.D.
Lymphocyte Activation Section - Chen-Feng Qi, M.D., Ph.D.
Pathology Core - Sumati Ragagopalan, Ph.D.
Molecular and Cellular Immunology Section - Peter Sun, Ph.D.
Structural Immunology Section - Xuehua Xu, Ph.D.
Chemotaxis Signaling Section
Sections and Units
The Laboratory of Immunogenetics includes the following sections and units:
- Autoimmunity and Functional Genomics Section
Silvia Bolland, Ph.D., Chief - Antibody Biology Unit
Joshua Tan, Ph.D., Chief - Chemotaxis Signal Section
Tian Jin, Ph.D. Chief - Lymphocyte Activation Section
Susan Pierce, Ph.D., Chief - Malaria Infection Biology and Immunity Section
Peter D. Crompton, M.D., M.P.H., Chief - Molecular and Cellular Immunology Section
Eric Long, Ph.D., Chief
- Molecular Pathology Section
Victor Lobanenkov, Ph.D., Chief - Structural Immunology Section
- Peter Sun, Ph.D., Chief
- T-Cell Tolerance and Memory Section
Polly Matzinger, Ph.D., Chief - Twinbrook Imaging Facility
Joseph Brzostowski, Ph.D., Chief