Tufts University · BiochemistryMecsas Lab
Joan C Mecsas · Medford, Massachusetts
Research Focus
Joan C. Mecsas's lab focuses on understanding how bacterial pathogens manipulate immune cells to evade responses during infections. The research particularly looks at neutrophils, which are crucial for fighting infections, and specialized intestinal cells called M cells, which help trigger immune responses. By investigating how the bacterium Yersinia pseudotuberculosis interacts with these cells, the lab aims to uncover new strategies to enhance immune responses and combat diseases caused by multi-drug resistant bacteria.
Yersinia pseudotuberculosisneutrophilsM cellsimmune responseinfectious diseasesbacterial virulenceKlebsiella pneumoniaepathogen-host interactionsorgan modelsgenetic manipulation
Research Aims
5AIM 01Dissect the functions of SKAP2 in neutrophils during Klebsiella pneumonia infection.
AIM 02Understand how YopO affects GPCR signaling in PMNs during infection.
AIM 03Identify SKAP2-independent pathways targeted by YopH that inactivate neutrophil degranulation.
AIM 04Determine the impact of Yersinia infection on M cell abundance and function.
AIM 05Evaluate the role of Yop targets in M cell activities such as particle internalization and transcytosis.
Skills the Lab Values
PCRcell culturemurine infection modelsbacterial geneticslive-cell visualizationimmune cell assaysorganoid differentiationflow cytometryquantitative PCRprotein analysis
Output against the department
Publications125bottom 35% of dept.259th of 402
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations9.3kbottom 48% of dept.209th of 402
this lab
most citedleast cited
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