Our laboratory is interested in the molecular signals that are used by the immune system to distinguish healthy from unhealthy tissue. Many of our projects focus on “unconventional” T cell recognition, involving γδ T cells, Natural Killer T cells and Muscosal-Associated Invariant T (MAIT) cells and antigen presentation by nonclassical or MHC-like proteins. Our strengths are in biochemistry, structural biology, protein engineering and cellular assays that will reveal the fundamental principles behind how effector cells of the immune system regulate human disease. We have a high level of expertise in studying molecular recognition of T cells, particularly unconventional T cells outside the canonical CD4+/CD8+ lineage and structure function of antigen-presenting molecules.
Stanford University
Stanford, CA
Postdoc - Molecular Immunology
2005
UC Berkeley
Berkeley, CA
PhD - Evolutionary Genetics
2001
UC San Diego
La Jolla, CA
BS - Animal Physiology and Neuroscience
1993
CRISPR screens decode cancer cell pathways that trigger ?d T cell detection.
CRISPR screens decode cancer cell pathways that trigger ?d T cell detection. Nature. 2023 Sep; 621(7977):188-195.
PMID: 37648854
Ligand-induced segregation from large cell-surface phosphatases is a critical step in ?d TCR triggering.
Ligand-induced segregation from large cell-surface phosphatases is a critical step in ?d TCR triggering. bioRxiv. 2023 Aug 24.
PMID: 37662246
Deaza-modification of MR1 ligands modulates recognition by MR1-restricted T cells.
Deaza-modification of MR1 ligands modulates recognition by MR1-restricted T cells. Sci Rep. 2022 12 29; 12(1):22539.
PMID: 36581641
The molecular characterization of antibody binding to a superantigen-like protein from a commensal microbe.
The molecular characterization of antibody binding to a superantigen-like protein from a commensal microbe. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2021 09 28; 118(39).
PMID: 34548394
How Tim proteins differentially exploit membrane features to attain robust target sensitivity.
How Tim proteins differentially exploit membrane features to attain robust target sensitivity. Biophys J. 2021 11 02; 120(21):4891-4902.
PMID: 34529946
Molecular design of the ?dT cell receptor ectodomain encodes biologically fit ligand recognition in the absence of mechanosensing.
Molecular design of the ?dT cell receptor ectodomain encodes biologically fit ligand recognition in the absence of mechanosensing. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2021 06 29; 118(26).
PMID: 34172580
Altered selection on a single self-ligand promotes susceptibility to organ-specific T cell infiltration.
Altered selection on a single self-ligand promotes susceptibility to organ-specific T cell infiltration. J Exp Med. 2021 06 07; 218(6).
PMID: 33914024
Biochemical patterns of antibody polyreactivity revealed through a bioinformatics-based analysis of CDR loops.
Biochemical patterns of antibody polyreactivity revealed through a bioinformatics-based analysis of CDR loops. Elife. 2020 11 10; 9.
PMID: 33169668
Diversity in recognition and function of human ?d T cells.
Diversity in recognition and function of human ?d T cells. Immunol Rev. 2020 11; 298(1):134-152.
PMID: 33136294
Alpaca (Vicugna pacos), the first nonprimate species with a phosphoantigen-reactive V?9Vd2 T cell subset.
Alpaca (Vicugna pacos), the first nonprimate species with a phosphoantigen-reactive V?9Vd2 T cell subset. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2020 03 24; 117(12):6697-6707.
PMID: 32139608
Joseph Regenstein Professorship
UChicago
2016 - pres
Searle Scholar
UChicago
2007 - 2010
Cancer Research Institute Postdoc Fellow
Stanford University
2001 - 2004
Phi Beta Kappa
UC San Diego
1993
Graduate Cum Laude
UC San Diego
1993