University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill · Microbiology & ImmunologyLazear Lab
Helen Lazear · Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Research Focus
Dr. Helen Lazear's lab at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill studies how the immune system protects the skin from viruses like herpes simplex virus and other mosquito-borne pathogens. They specifically investigate how interferon lambda, a type of signaling molecule, helps control viral infections and inflammation in the skin. The lab uses mouse models to explore the mechanisms of immune response and aims to develop better strategies for fighting viral diseases.
interferon lambdaHSV-1viral infectionimmunologyskin diseaseflavivirusmosquito-borne virusesimmune responseinflammationneutrophil recruitment
Research Aims
5AIM 01Define the mechanism by which IFN-lambda restricts acute HSV-1 skin disease.
AIM 02Investigate how IFN-lambda signaling in keratinocytes limits HSV-1 lesions.
AIM 03Assess the role of IFN-lambda during recurrent HSV-1 infections.
AIM 04Examine the effects of IFN-lambda on mosquito-borne viruses when introduced through the skin.
AIM 05Explore the impact of vector saliva on the immune response against viruses in the skin.
Skills the Lab Values
mouse modelsviral replication analysisskin infection assaysflow cytometryimmunostaininglive animal imagingcell culture techniquesneutrophil analysisgene expression profiling cytokine assays
Output against the department
Publications96bottom 33% of dept.324th of 486
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations7.3ktop 49% of dept.237th 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.