Clark, Edward A

Dr. Clark's laboratory is interested in how B lymphocytes are activated to survive, proliferate or undergo programmed cell death. B cells are very social cells, and their behavior is influenced not only by various forms of specific antigen, but also by receptor-ligand interactions with T lymphocytes (e.g., CD40 ligand), dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages (e.g., BAFF). A major goal of the laboratory is to define key signaling pathways regulating the fate of B cells after they are activated through antigen, CD40 or BAFF receptors. Recently the lab has focused on extrafollicular antibody responses triggered by pathogens and via DC-controlled processes.

Dr. Clark's laboratory also investigates receptors regulating DC activation and functions. DCs are sentinels within the immune system, which respond to pathogens through pattern recognition receptors such as Toll-like receptors (TLR) or C-type lectin receptors (CLRs). These receptors program DCs to migrate to lymph nodes and instruct T cells and B cells to make appropriate responses to infections. Dr. Clark's lab is elucidating the functions of novel CLRs on DCs, including DCAL-1, which may regulate IL-4 responses in T cells, and DCAL-2. His lab is also using mAb to CLRs to deliver antigens to certain DC subsets. A current project is to define how DCs and splenic macrophages regulate immunity to West Nile virus infection.