University of Pennsylvania · Microbiology & ImmunologyLocci Lab
Michela Locci · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Research Focus
Michela Locci's lab at the University of Pennsylvania focuses on understanding how mRNA vaccines, specifically for SARS-CoV-2, regulate immune responses in the body. The research particularly looks at how long-lasting and effective these vaccines are in generating protective antibodies and memory cells. By exploring key questions about immune cell interactions and vaccine effectiveness, the lab aims to improve future vaccine strategies and inform the development of new vaccines against challenging pathogens.
mRNA vaccinesSARS-CoV-2germinal centerimmune responseT follicular helper cellsB cell responsesvaccine designantibody productionantigen presentationpublic health
Research Aims
3AIM 01Investigate the durability of B cell responses generated by SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines in both mice and humans.
AIM 02Examine the role of different antigen presenting cells in the differentiation of T follicular helper cells during mRNA vaccination.
AIM 03Determine the mechanisms by which SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines stimulate germinal center B cell responses.
Skills the Lab Values
cell culturemouse modelsimmunological assaysantibody titer measurementflow cytometryRNA isolationPCRWestern blotconfocal microscopy
Output against the department
Publications46bottom 9% of dept.441st of 486
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations4.9kbottom 38% of dept.303rd of 486
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.