Lab Members

The intersection between chronic inflammatory skin diseases (such as atopic dermatitis and psoriasis) and the underlying immune environment during times of stimulation (such as vaccination) and disease (both viral and bacterial pathogens).

Using primary adult keratinocytes to understand the mechanisms behind bullous pemphigoid (BP) development. Specifically, I am focused on the effects of the type 2 cytokines IL-4 + IL-13, Staphylococcus aureus, and the combination of inflammation and bacterial strains on BP180 (major disease driving protein) expression and cleavage to the immunodominant domain known as NC16A. This site is a key epitope in the autoantibody response of BP so understanding what generates this antigen is important in understanding the etiology of BP.

My focus is collecting clinical samples/metrics to better understand the relationship between S. aureus and bullous pemphigoid. Specifically, I am interested in whether this bacterium contributes to the molecular and/or phenotypic characteristics of disease severity. To do this I am enrolling patients to quantify S. aureus burden as well as examine biomarkers within serum and blister fluid to establish a role of this bacterium in disease pathogenesis.

Identifying the contributions of the mycobiome to skin in health and disease.

My project aims to identify the effect of eczema-associated fungi on regulating skin inflammation and barrier function. Specifically, I study how fungal species (such as Candida albicans and Candida parapsilosis) influence protease activity on the skin and  initiate pro-inflammatory cytokine responses.