Kishore Alugupalli, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology & Immunology

Contact
233 South 10th Street
Room 726 BLSB
Philadelphia, PA 19107
215-503-4554
215-503-4153 fax
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Kishore Alugupalli, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology & Immunology
Research and Clinical Interests
Immunology. B cell Memory - B1b Lymphocyte biology; Innate Immunity - Toll-like receptors and NOD-like receptors
B1b lymphocytes in T cell-independent memory:
Pathogenesis of infectious disease is not only determined by the virulence of the microbe but also by the immune status of the host. Vaccination is the most effective means to control infectious diseases. A hallmark of the adaptive immune system is the generation of B cell memory, which provides a long-lasting protective antibody response that is central to the concept of vaccination. Studies from our laboratory revealed a distinct function for B1b lymphocytes, a minor subset of mature B cells that closely resembles that of memory B cells in a number of aspects. In contrast to the development of conventional B cell memory, which requires the formation of germinal centers and T cells, the development of B1b cell-mediated long-lasting antibody responses occurs independent of T cell help. T cell-independent (TI) antigens are important virulence factors expressed by a number of bacterial pathogens, including those associated with biological threats. TI antigens cannot be processed and presented to T cells and therefore are known to possess restricted T cell-dependent (TD) immunogenicity. Nevertheless, specific recognition of TI antigens by B1b cells and the highly protective antibody responses mounted by them clearly indicate a crucial role for this subset of B cells. Understanding the mechanisms of long-term immunity conferred by B1b cells are among the major interests of my laboratory.
Publications
- Identification of collaborative cross mouse strains permissive to Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi infection
- The Lack of Natural IgM Increases Susceptibility and Impairs Anti-Vi Polysaccharide IgG Responses in a Mouse Model of Typhoid
- The Immunoglobulin M Response to Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine Is Sufficient for Conferring Immunity
- Attenuation of relapsing fever neuroborreliosis in mice by IL-17A blockade
- Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase is not required for antibody response to polysaccharide vaccines against Streptococcus pneumoniae and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi