Tiffany A. Reese, Ph.D.

Research

The Reese lab will probe how maternal infections influence the development of fetal immunity. In developing countries, chronic viral or parasitic infections during pregnancy are quite common. Such chronic infections can shape the immune system of the mother—and can alter the immunity of the developing embryo. But the factors responsible are not well-understood. In a preliminary study, we have found that the offspring of mice infected with intestinal worms during pregnancy are more susceptible to infection with the flu virus, even as adults. Now, our group will determine how the immune cells of mice born from infected mothers differ from those with healthy mothers and assess whether these changes alter the animals’ ability to clear viral infections in infancy and later in life. We will also analyze whether maternal inflammation or changes to the offspring’s intestinal microbes play a role in this immune reprogramming. This work could lead to therapies for enhancing infant immunity and survival in the face of infection.