Suresh MARULASIDDAPPA, DVM, PhD

John E. Butler Professor of Comparative and Mucosal Immunology

The overall goal of Dr. Suresh’s research is to use a multidisciplinary approach to decipher the cellular and molecular basis of T cell immunity to mucosal and systemic viral infections. First, by defining the tenets of programming long-term T cell immunity in the mucosal tissues, they hope to develop novel vaccination approaches that can induce durable immunity to viruses such as influenza virus and respiratory syncytial virus in the respiratory tract. Second, using the powerful model of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) infection in mice, they are elucidating mechanisms underlying: (1) the suppression of T cell immunity during chronic viral infections; (2) immune senescence and unresponsiveness of elderly to vaccinations. Their studies have provided new insights into the mechanisms that regulate the induction and maintenance of lung-resident memory T cells that confer heterosubtypic immunity against influenza virus in the lungs. They have identified a novel vaccine adjuvant that can induce protective immunity to both mucosal and systemic viral infections. Further, we have defined the role of FoxO transcription factors in the generation and maintenance of T cell memory to systemic viral infections. Graduate students trained in the Suresh Lab are working as faculty members (Som Nanjappa, Assistant Professor, University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign) or scientists (Anju Singh at NIH, Bethesda and Eui Ho Kim at NIEHS/NIH, Durham, NC) or research associate (Melba Marie Tejera a VTG trainee; Moffitt Cancer Center, FL). Dr. Suresh collaborates with Drs. Kawaoka and Friedrich.  His lab is supported by U01 and R21 NIAID grants for which he is PI.