Immunology

Elizabeth A. Wohlfert, PhD, focuses her research on the intestinal immune system. She aims to understand regulatory mechanisms during infection and autoimmunity at mucosal sites, particularly within the gastrointestinal tract.

Our immunology research intersects with explorations of various disease-causing pathogens, incorporating molecular processes, cancer immunology and infectious disease. We study host immune responses to parasitic and microbial infection. We also explore immunity and immune regulation at mucosal sites, mucosal vaccine adjuvants and vaccine development.

Focus on Tumor Immunology, Host Pathogen Interactions and Immunity at Mucosal Sites

Our research focuses on the mechanisms by which bacterial products and bacterial pathogens modulate immune responses in the host.

We are working to develop immune adjuvants for vaccine development against HIV, pneumococci and other pathogens. We also aim to identify bacterial genes and gene products that elicit or exacerbate symptoms of Crohn’s disease and inflammatory bowel disease.

We also are evaluating the potential of bacterial enterotoxins to combat breast cancer.

Other projects aim to understand mechanisms of immune regulation in mucosal tissues. We study regulatory T cells (Tregs) during infections with parasites to understand how they adapt to, and function within, inflammatory environments. The goal is to better understand Treg adaptation so we can target these cells for therapeutic purposes.

We aim to determine the cell types and factors in human tumor microenvironments that inhibit the ability of patients’ T cells to recognize and kill tumor cells. Upon recognizing the immune suppressive factors, we then design methods to block or reverse the T cell inhibitory activity, thereby enhancing T cell killing and tumor eradication.

We explore how immune responses to parasitic infections in the central nervous system affect the function and survival of neurons.

We also study biological functions of IgA antibodies and the generation of mucosal immune responses, especially against bacterial infections of the mouth and genital tract.

Research News

Russell: Nasal Vaccine Could Work Best Against COVID-19
9/19/22
As public health experts cautiously anticipate how COVID-19 will play out this fall, Michael W. Russell, PhD, professor emeritus of microbiology and immunology, is reiterating that substantial immunity against the SARS-CoV-2 virus will only happen with a vaccine that can be delivered through the nose.
Trainees Earn American Heart Association Fellowships
4/22/22
Three trainees in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology have received fellowships from the American Heart Association (AHA).
Scientists Honored for Work on Host-Microbe Interactions
4/15/21
Chelsie E. Armbruster, PhD, and Elsa Bou Ghanem, PhD, both assistant professors of microbiology and immunology, are being recognized as highly-promising, early-career scientists in the field of host-microbe interactions by the American Society for Microbiology’s Infection and Immunity (IAI) Journal.
48 Original Projects Featured at Student Research Forum
3/22/21
The research projects, from 48 aspiring physician-scientists, were presented at the 2021 Virtual Medical Student Research Forum.
Researchers Urge Mucosal Immunity Study for COVID-19
12/15/20
Michael W. Russell, PhD, professor emeritus of microbiology and immunology, says more COVID-19 studies should be devoted to how immunity emerges to SARS-CoV-2 in the mucous membranes of the nose and mouth.