Host-microbe interactions and oral mucosal immunity
Who I am
I am a dentist scientist with interest in host-microbe interactions and oral barrier immunity. I have previously trained at UCLA and am currently a clinical fellow at NIH/NIDCR.
My Research
The relationship between the host and microbiota in barrier mucosal tissues is delicate and requires communication between microbes and host cells to initiate, adapt, and terminate responses in a manner that protects the host from infection and allows beneficial microbes to survive and thrive. I am interested in understanding what governs host-microbe communication in health and disease at the oral barrier.
Resources
In my postdoctoral work, I have generated a single cell RNA Seq atlas of the human buccal and gingival mucosa. Additionally, I helped to develop a method for efficient dissociation of oral mucosal tissues for single cell applications.