Overview
We study the pathways by which microorganisms cross cellular barriers and the mechanisms by which these barriers restrict microbial infections. Our studies primarily focus on the epithelium that lines the gastrointestinal tract and on placental trophoblasts, the cells that comprise a key cellular barrier of the human placenta. Our work is highly multidisciplinary and encompasses aspects of cell biology, immunology, and microbiology. Our long-term goals are to identify pathogen- and host-specific therapeutic targets to prevent or treat microbial infections and ultimately to alleviate the morbidity and mortality caused by these infections.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
George Barth Geller Distinguished Professor of Immunology
·
2022 - Present
Integrative Immunobiology,
Basic Science Departments
Professor of Integrative Immunobiology
·
2023 - Present
Integrative Immunobiology,
Basic Science Departments
Professor of Pathology
·
2022 - Present
Pathology,
Clinical Science Departments
Professor of Cell Biology
·
2022 - Present
Cell Biology,
Basic Science Departments
Member in the Duke Human Vaccine Institute
·
2021 - Present
Duke Human Vaccine Institute,
Institutes and Centers
Member of the Duke Cancer Institute
·
2021 - Present
Duke Cancer Institute,
Institutes and Centers
Recent Publications
Comparative analysis of the syncytiotrophoblast in placenta tissue and trophoblast organoids using snRNA sequencing.
Preprint · May 27, 2025 Full text Link to item CiteComparative analysis of the syncytiotrophoblast in placenta tissue and trophoblast organoids using snRNA sequencing
Journal Article eLife · May 27, 2025 The syncytiotrophoblast (STB) is a multinucleated cell layer that forms the outer surface of human chorionic villi. Its unusual structure, with billions of nuclei in a single cell, makes it difficult to resolve using conventional single-cell method ... Full text CiteCellular and Immune Adaptations at the Maternal-Fetal Interface in Bats.
Journal Article bioRxiv · May 19, 2025 UNLABELLED: Bats maintain pregnancy despite extended gestation relative to other small mammals, high fetal investment, recurrent pathogen exposure, and the metabolic demands of flight. These physiological extremes likely drive unique adaptations in placent ... Full text Link to item CiteRecent Grants
Model Systems Core (MODS Core)
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Weill Cornell Medicine · 2024 - 2029Interferon-inducible cell-intrinsic host defense against Chlamydia trachomatis
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · 2024 - 2028Microbial regulation of intestinal epithelial gene expression
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases · 2024 - 2028View All Grants
Education, Training & Certifications
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill ·
2003
Ph.D.