University of Alabama at Birmingham · Microbiology & ImmunologyT Cell Immunology Lab
Allan J Zajac · Birmingham, Alabama
Research Focus
Dr. Allan Zajac's lab at the University of Alabama at Birmingham focuses on understanding how immune cells, particularly T cells, become exhausted during chronic viral infections like HIV, HBV, and HCV. The research aims to discover the roles of specific immune signals, such as IL-2, in shaping the T cell response, which is crucial for improving treatments and immune responses in chronic infections. This work has significant implications for enhancing public health strategies against viral diseases by restoring effective immune function.
T cell exhaustionIL-2 signalingchronic viral infectionsCD4 T cellsCD8 T cellsimmune checkpoint blockadeviral clearanceHIVHepatitis BHepatitis C
Research Aims
3AIM 01Define the contributions of IL-2-producing CD8 T cells to the formation of exhausted subsets.
AIM 02Define the influence of functionally distinct CD4 helper subsets on the exhausted pool.
AIM 03Determine the temporally distinct roles of IL-2 in structuring the exhausted pool.
Skills the Lab Values
cell cultureflow cytometrymouse modelsPCRWestern blotcytokine assaysadoptive transferimmunological profilingstatistical modelingmolecular biology techniques
Output against the department
Publications162top 41% of dept.198th of 486
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations11ktop 33% of dept.158th of 486
this lab
most citedleast cited
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