The Gay Crooks laboratory in the UCLA Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine is interested in how hematopoietic stem cells are capable of generating the various components of the immune systems during development and following transplantation. The immune system is comprised of specialized cells, including T cells, that are important in fighting infections, cancer, and a vast array of autoimmune diseases. The use of dendritic cells (DCs) to present viral-associated antigens to T cells has been widely investigated as an approach to treating viral diseases. Previously, the Crooks laboratory developed a method for generating and expanding high purity human DCs from hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. These DCs process viral antigen material and trigger a robust immune response.
Dr. Crooks and colleagues are currently producing DCs to study how the immune system responds to the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2. DCs generated from blood forming stem cells mount strong immune responses to specific parts of the SARS-CoV-2 structure. These approaches will allow for the identification of T cell epitopes and T cell receptors that are activated upon interaction with SARS-CoV-2. Establishing the mechanistic basis for viral interaction with the host immune system will allow for the development of more effective COVID-19 vaccines.
Link to Faculty Webpage: http://www.crooks-lab.com/
Relevant Articles and Cases: https://blog.cirm.ca.gov/2020/04/27/two-ucla-scientists-receive-cirm-funding-for-discovery-research-for-covid-19/
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