Laboratory of Immunogenetics
Susan K. Pierce, Ph.D., Chief
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.
Research includes investigations of the structure and function of the natural killer (NK) cell inhibitory and activating receptors; the molecular mechanisms underlying the functions of the FcgammaRIIB receptor; the signal transduction pathway in chemotaxis mediated by G protein-coupled receptors; and the function of the B-cell antigen receptor in initiating signaling cascades and transporting antigen for processing with the MHC class II molecules. Additional studies are aimed at elucidating the structures of components of important pathogens and the cellular receptors with which they interact.
The LIG members are highly interactive, creating a unique environment in which structural biology, molecular biology and cell biology are interfaced. Interactions within the LIG are facilitated by weekly work-in-progress presentations detailing recent advances and future directions of the LIG fellows and students.
Lymphocyte Activation Section
Susan K. Pierce, Ph.D.
Autoimmunity and Functional Genomics Section
Silvia Bolland, Ph.D.
Structural Biology Section
David N. Garboczi, Ph.D.
Chemotaxis Signal Section
Tian Jin, Ph.D.
Molecular and Cellular Immunology Section
Eric O. Long, Ph.D.
Structural Immunology Section
Peter D. Sun, Ph.D.
John E. Coligan, Ph.D.
Francisco Borrego, M.D., Ph.D.
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