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
Allosteric disulfide control of ligand binding and endocytosis of KIR2DL4, the natural killer cell receptor for HLA-G.
Allosteric disulfide control of ligand binding and endocytosis of KIR2DL4, the natural killer cell receptor for HLA-G. bioRxiv. 2026 Jul 10.
PMID: 42465296
Community-Centered Funding and Research to Advance Health Equity.
Community-Centered Funding and Research to Advance Health Equity. NEJM Catal Innov Care Deliv. 2026; 7(s2):CAT260103.
PMID: 42455982
TCR? constant usage tunes human ?d T cell antigen sensitivity, thymic programming, and peripheral function.
TCR? constant usage tunes human ?d T cell antigen sensitivity, thymic programming, and peripheral function. Sci Immunol. 2026 Feb 13; 11(116):eadr7167.
PMID: 41686911
Lipid-packing defects are sufficient to modulate membrane insertion and the bound state of a-synuclein.
Lipid-packing defects are sufficient to modulate membrane insertion and the bound state of a-synuclein. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2025 Dec 30; 122(52):e2419823122.
PMID: 41428873
Molecular characterization of the archaic HLA-B*73:01 allele reveals presentation of a unique peptidome and skewed engagement by KIR2DL2.
Molecular characterization of the archaic HLA-B*73:01 allele reveals presentation of a unique peptidome and skewed engagement by KIR2DL2. J Biol Chem. 2025 09; 301(9):110542.
PMID: 40749828
Disruption of riboflavin biosynthesis in mycobacteria establishes riboflavin pathway intermediates as key precursors of MAIT cell agonists.
Disruption of riboflavin biosynthesis in mycobacteria establishes riboflavin pathway intermediates as key precursors of MAIT cell agonists. PLoS Pathog. 2025 07; 21(7):e1012632.
PMID: 40591719
Mapping the extracellular molecular architecture of the pAg-signaling complex with a-Butyrophilin antibodies.
Mapping the extracellular molecular architecture of the pAg-signaling complex with a-Butyrophilin antibodies. Sci Rep. 2025 Apr 09; 15(1):12162.
PMID: 40204806
Regulatory T cells constrain T cells of shared specificity to enforce tolerance during infection.
Regulatory T cells constrain T cells of shared specificity to enforce tolerance during infection. Science. 2025 03 21; 387(6740):eadk3248.
PMID: 40014689
Molecular characterization of the archaic HLA-B*73:01 allele reveals presentation of a unique peptidome and skewed engagement by KIR2DL2.
Molecular characterization of the archaic HLA-B*73:01 allele reveals presentation of a unique peptidome and skewed engagement by KIR2DL2. bioRxiv. 2024 Nov 28.
PMID: 39651149
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. Cell Rep. 2024 Oct 22; 43(10):114882.
PMID: 39383038
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