Keke C. Fairfax Research Group

University of Utah

How does Schistosoma mansoni infection alter immune development and protection against metabolic and inflammatory diseases? The laboratory uses Schistosoma mansoni infection models to study IL-4 driven immunomodulation and its consequences for B and T cell memory. Researchers use IL-4 reporter mice and antigen challenge to dissect IL-4 roles in maintaining follicular dendritic cells, lymphatic endothelial cells, and peripheral lymph node environments. The group performs transcriptional and metabolic profiling of hepatic macrophages to identify changes in phospholipid, cholesterol, and amino-acid pathways linked to infection-induced protection from metabolic disease. Projects include maternal schistosomiasis models to assess prenatal antigen exposure effects on offspring immune responsiveness.