Determining the transcriptional regulation of the T cell response by T-cell factor 1

T cell-mediated immune responses are crucial in controlling intracellular pathogen infection. Upon antigen encounter, T cells undergo a prolific expansion, creating a large population of effector cells. This robust population then dramatically contracts, leaving a small subset of memory T cells capable of providing more immediate protection upon reinfection with the same antigen. Our long-term research goal is to define the roles of T-cell factor 1 (TCF1) throughout T cell development. Within the scope of my project, our goal is to determine the role of TCF1 in CD4 T cell differentiation, as well as CD4 and CD8 T cell memory generation.

He B, Xing S, Chen C, Gao P, Teng L, Shan Q, Gullicksrud JA, Martin MD, Yu S, Harty JT, Badovinac VP, Tan K, Xue HH. CD8(+) T Cells Utilize Highly Dynamic Enhancer Repertoires and Regulatory Circuitry in Response to Infections. Immunity. 2016 Dec 20;45(6):1341-1354. doi: 10.1016/j.immuni.2016.11.009. PubMed PMID: 27986453; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5304416.

Choi YS, Gullicksrud JA, Xing S, Zeng Z, Shan Q, Li F, Love PE, Peng W, Xue HH, Crotty S. LEF-1 and TCF-1 orchestrate T(FH) differentiation by regulating differentiation circuits upstream of the transcriptional repressor Bcl6. Nat Immunol. 2015 Sep;16(9):980-90. doi: 10.1038/ni.3226. Epub 2015 Jul 27. PubMed PMID: 26214741; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4545301.

Honors and Awards

• Presidential Graduate Research Fellowship