Dissecting periodontitis pathogenesis through rare disease
Studies in the lab focus on mechanisms of disease in patients with genetic forms of periodontitis.
Current work is focused on:
- Leukocyte Adhesion deficiency I disease, (LAD I) caused by mutations in the ITGB2 gene and linked to neutrophil transmigration defects (Key collaborators: Steven M. Holland (NIAID), GH Hajishengallis, UPenn)
- Plasminogen Deficiency, caused by mutations in the PLG gene and linked to fibrinogen accumulation (Key collaborator: Thomas Bugge, NIDCR)
Th17/Neutrophil axis in oral immunity
Basic studies in the lab are centered around the Th17/neutrophil axis of oral immunity and interrogate:
- Triggering and specification of Th17 in oral health/disease
- Th17 functionality in oral immunity
- Neutrophil function/dysfunction in oral health and disease
Human cell transcriptomic and spatial atlas of oral mucosa in health and disease
We aim to compile a rich single cell transcriptomic atlas of distinct oral mucosal tissues in health and periodontal disease. Our work attempts to identify cell populations, localization, functions and interactions preserving homeostasis and participating in disease, both for rare and common forms of periodontitis.
