Description
The Locci lab studies T cell-B cell collaborations in health and disease (https://www.loccilab.com/ ). Areas of active investigation in the lab include T follicular helper (Tfh) cell differentiation and regulation of B cell responses in vaccination, infection and autoimmunity in mice and humans. The Lab is part of the Institute for Immunology and Immune Health (I3H), a large and vibrant immunology community at the University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, USA).
We are seeking motivated and talented postdoctoral researchers to lead projects aimed at:
1) Dissecting Tfh and B cell responses to SARS-CoV-2 in Long COVID, using combined approaches including single cell transcriptomics (CITE-seq) and high parameter spectral flow cytometry on lymph node samples.
2) Understanding the role that the cytokine activin A plays in the regulation of Tfh and B cell biology during normal immune responses (vaccination and infection) and in autoimmune diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, Lupus and multiple sclerosis).
Publications highlighting previous work from our group are:
– IL-12 drives the differentiation of human T follicular regulatory cells. Castano et al. Science Immunology 2024
– Distinct components of nucleoside-modified messenger RNA vaccines cooperate to instruct efficient germinal center responses. Bettini et al. bioRxiv 2024
– Germinal center responses to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines in healthy and immunocompromised individuals. Lederer et al. Cell 2022
– Lipid nanoparticles enhance the efficacy of mRNA and protein subunit vaccines by inducing robust T follicular helper cell and humoral responses. Alameh et al Immunity 2021
– Activin A programs the differentiation of human Tfh cells. Locci et al. Nature Immunology 2016
Qualifications
For Project 1, qualified applicants should have a PhD or an MD, and experience with human immunology and multi-parameter flow cytometry. Previous experience with single-cell transcriptomics and bioinformatic skills are highly desirable.
For Project 2, qualified applicants should have a PhD or an MD, a strong background in immunology as well as experience with in vivo mouse work, high-parameter flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. Previous experience with single-cell transcriptomics and bioinformatic skills are highly desirable.
Contact
Michela Locci,
Assistant Professor
Department of Microbiology
BRB II/III
421 Curie Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Email: michela.locci@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
