Claudia Haouilou
Research Mentor: Yasmina Laouar
Mentor Department: Microbiology and Immunology, Medicine
Author(s): Not Available
Session: Session 2 (10:00 AM – 10:50 AM)
Presentation Type: Poster 132
Abstract
Countless studies are currently being conducted in the field of immunology in the hopes of discovering so much of what is unknown about the human immune system to better help treat diseases. Historically, specific-pathogen-free (SPF) mice have been used to study immune responses to viruses and disease because their controlled, pathogen-free status minimizes confounding infections and enables reproducible, mechanistic analyses of host immune function. However, to better model immune responses that resemble human physiology, alternative systems are needed, since SPF mice immune responses often fail to reflect the mature, microbially experienced human immune system that governs real-world disease responses. Dirty (microbial-experienced) mice, in particular, have emerged as a powerful model due to their ability to closely mimic human immune states, however the immunological foundations of these models are still not well understood. Our study aims to develop a basic understanding of how microbial exposure alters the immune system. In our experiment, we are conducting a comprehensive analysis of immune cells in 13 organs covering the most important lymphoid and non-lymphoid organs from four groups of mice with different levels of microbial exposure. These include germ-free, SPF, co-housed (mice who were kept together in the same cage for 4 weeks prior to the experiment), and pet-store mice. To analyze the data, we are using a comprehensive panel of antibodies that contain more than 50 markers to target major immune cell subsets by flow cytometry. My project will be focusing on providing a comprehensive interpretation of the thymocyte panel. Through systematic analysis of phenotypically defined thymocyte subsets, I will explain their correspondence to key developmental and selection stages during T cell maturation, and determine how microbial exposure alters subset composition and maturation dynamics. Understanding T-cell development in the context of microbial exposure is critical because environmental microbes shape thymic selection and immune competence across lifespan. Investigating these effects will provide insight into how microbial experience programs T-cell maturation and may help explain discrepancies between models and real human immune responses.
