Rutgers University-New Brunswick · BiologyStaphylococcus Immunity Research Unit
Dane Parker · New Brunswick, New Jersey
Research Focus
Dr. Dane Parker's lab focuses on understanding how the immune system interacts with Staphylococcus aureus, a common cause of pneumonia and antibiotic-resistant infections. The research aims to explore how a specific immune signaling pathway, known as type III interferon, affects the body's ability to clear this pathogen. By studying the role of immune cells called alveolar macrophages and the mechanisms by which Staphylococcus aureus activates immune responses, the lab hopes to discover new therapeutic strategies to combat infections caused by this dangerous bacterium.
Staphylococcus aureustype III interferonsantibiotic resistancealveolar macrophageshost-pathogen interactionpneumoniaimmune responsetherapeutic interventionsRNA sequencinginfection control
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate the role of type III interferon in pathogenesis of Staphylococcus aureus infections.
AIM 02Examine how S. aureus activates type III interferon signaling.
AIM 03Determine the impact of type III interferon on alveolar macrophage function.
AIM 04Identify changes to the epithelial barrier in response to type III interferon signaling.
AIM 05Develop potential therapeutic strategies to target the type III interferon pathway.
Skills the Lab Values
cell cultureanimal modelsRNA sequencingprotein assaysmicroscopyimmunology techniquesflow cytometrybiochemical assaysdata analysismolecular cloning
Output against the department
Publications123bottom 44% of dept.576th of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations5.3kbottom 39% of dept.629th of 1,033
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.