Keke C. Fairfax Research Group

The laboratory uses Schistosoma mansoni infection models to study IL-4 driven immunomodulation and its consequences for B and T cell memory. Researchers use IL-4 reporter mice and antigen challenge to dissect IL-4 roles in maintaining follicular dendritic cells, lymphatic endothelial cells, and peripheral lymph node environments. The group performs transcriptional and metabolic profiling of hepatic macrophages to identify changes in phospholipid, cholesterol, and amino-acid pathways linked to infection-induced protection from metabolic disease. Projects include maternal schistosomiasis models to assess prenatal antigen exposure effects on offspring immune responsiveness.