University of Rochester · Microbiology & ImmunologyYarovinsky Immunology Lab
Felix Yarovinsky · Rochester, New York
Research Focus
Professor Felix Yarovinsky's lab at the University of Rochester focuses on understanding how the immune system fights off infections from protozoan parasites like Cryptosporidium and Toxoplasma gondii. The lab investigates how our innate immune responses, particularly through the action of a molecule called interferon gamma (IFN-γ), help protect against these pathogens, especially in vulnerable populations such as young children and immunocompromised individuals. By studying immune responses and developing mouse models, the lab aims to discover new ways to tackle these infections and improve public health outcomes.
innate immunitycryptosporidiosisToxoplasma gondiiinterferon gammamucosal immunitypathogen recognitionintestinal epithelial cellsmouse modelsimmunopathology
Research Aims
5AIM 01Establish reliable mouse models of cryptosporidiosis to study immune responses.
AIM 02Investigate the role of TLR and IFN- pathways in mucosal immunity against Cryptosporidium.
AIM 03Identify the specific responses of intestinal epithelial cells to Toxoplasma gondii infection.
AIM 04Understand metabolic adaptations of epithelial cells during T. gondii infection.
AIM 05Elucidate the mechanisms of immunopathology related to interferon responses in intestinal environments.
Skills the Lab Values
cell culturemouse modelsimmunohistochemistryflow cytometryRNA sequencingWestern blotcytokine assaysmetabolic profilinggenetic manipulation of cell lines
Output against the department
Publications74bottom 23% of dept.373rd of 486
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations8.3ktop 43% of dept.210th 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.