Julie Blander
Cornell University, New York, USA
- Title: The cell biology of antigen cross-presentation in dendritic cells
Among the Blander lab’s achievements, is the discovery that the innate
immune system can discriminate between live and dead microbes by sensing
signature molecules of microbial viability, named vita-PAMPs. Vita-PAMPs
mobilize distinct and highly inflammatory immune responses not warranted for
dead microbes. Vita-PAMPs are responsible for the efficacy of live vaccines
over their dead counterparts, and link innate detection of bacterial messenger
RNA, a vita-PAMP, to the differentiation of follicular T helper cells, which
heighten the antibody response. The discovery has promoted the design of
adjuvants incorporating vita-PAMPs to safely signal microbial viability and
mobilize long-lasting protective immunity.