University of Chicago · Microbiology & ImmunologyChen Lab
Jueqi Chen · Chicago, Illinois
Research Focus
Jueqi Chen's research lab at the University of Chicago studies how certain bacterial toxins, called cholesterol-dependent cytolysins (CDCs), can activate the body's immune system by stimulating a protein complex known as the NLRP3 inflammasome. This process helps fight off bacterial infections but can also lead to harmful inflammation if not properly regulated. By exploring the mechanisms behind this interaction, the lab aims to identify new strategies for designing antimicrobial drugs and understanding how pathogens affect human health.
bacterial infectionscholesterol-dependent cytolysinsNLRP3 inflammasomehost-pathogen interactionsinflammation mechanisms
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate how CDCs activate the NLRP3 inflammasome.
AIM 02Characterize the mechanisms of host organelle remodeling by CDCs.
AIM 03Evaluate the role of CDCs in both immune response and pathogenesis.
AIM 04Identify potential therapeutic targets within CDCs for infectious diseases.
AIM 05Explore the interplay between bacterial toxins and host defenses.
Skills the Lab Values
live cell imagingmass spectrometrymouse modelscell cultureinflammatory response assessment
Output against the department
Publications16bottom 3% of dept.471st of 486
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations2.6kbottom 16% of dept.408th 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.