University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus · Microbiology & ImmunologyThe B Cell Nexus
Rebecca A Elsner · Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Research Focus
Dr. Rebecca A. Elsner's lab focuses on understanding the extrafollicular B cell response, which plays a key role in our immune defense but is often overlooked. The lab explores how this response is regulated and its implications for diseases like lupus and COVID-19. By investigating the interaction of B cells with other immune cells, and how they differentiate in response to certain signals, the research aims to uncover new strategies for vaccine development and treatments for autoimmune conditions.
extrafollicular B cell responseB cell differentiationimmune signalingautoimmunityvaccinesIL-12CD4 T cellsimmunologydendritic cells
Research Aims
3AIM 01Investigate the role of B cells in enhancing the extrafollicular response locally.
AIM 02Characterize the transcriptional and epigenetic state of the proliferating extrafollicular B cell population.
AIM 03Define the roles of dendritic cells and CD4 T cells in the extrafollicular response through spatial transcriptomics.
Skills the Lab Values
cell cultureflow cytometrygene expression analysistranscriptional profilingimmunohistochemistryspatial transcriptomicsanimal modelsautocrine signaling characterizationcytokine assays
Output against the department
Publications29bottom 5% of dept.463rd of 486
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations1.9kbottom 12% of dept.429th 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.