Immunology Graduate Program

Molecular and Cellular Biology of the Immune System

Kathryn Trandem

B.A., Chemistry, Wesleyan University
 
Contact Information
     Email: kathryn-trandem@uiowa.edu
     Phone: 335-7576
     Campus Address: 3-730 BSB
Start date in program: 2007
Mentor: Stanley Perlman
Research Interests
Mice infected with hepatitis virus, strain JHM (JHMV), develop a chronic demyelinating disease with similarities to multiple sclerosis. The disease is largely immunopathological, with demyelination occurring during the course of virus clearance. We seek to investigate the role of regulatory T cells in JHMV-induced demyelination using two complementary experiments with adoptive transfer of regulatory T cells (CD4+foxp3+) and/or JHMV-immune splenocytes to C57BL/6 (immunocompetent) and Rag1-/- (immunodeficient) recipients. Additionally, we are investigating IL-10 with the ultimate goal of understanding the relationship between regulatory T cells and IL-10-producing cells in virus-induced demyelination. This research will contribute to our understanding of the immune system's role in mediating demyelination through a virus-induced murine multiple sclerosis model. Our goal is that this knowledge will lead to better treatment and therapies for persons suffering from this disabling disease.
Publications
Anghelina, D., Zhao, J., Trandem , K., Perlman, S. Role of regulatory T cells in coronavirus-induced acute encephalitis. Virology. 2009 Mar 15;385(2):358-67. Epub 2009 Jan 11. PubMed PMID: 19141357; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2684864.

Butler, N., Pewe, L., Trandem , K., Perlman, S. HCoV-OC43-induced encephalitis is in part immune-mediated. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2006;581:531-4. No abstract available. PMID: 17037592 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Butler, N., Pewe, L., Trandem , K., Perlman, S. Murine encephalitis caused by HCoV-OC43, a human coronavirus with broad species specificity, is partly immune-mediated. Virology. 2006 Apr 10;347(2):410-21. Epub 2006 Jan 18. PMID: 16413043 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]