Patricia S Grace, PhD

Antibodies are a powerful and adaptive feature of the immune system that can coordinate potent protective responses during infection. Canonically viewed as antigen specific effectors that neutralize extracellular virus via the antigen binding (Fab) domain, the antibody constant (or Fc-) domain also contributes to pathogen control via interactions with complement or Fc receptors (FcR) expressed on immune cells. Antibodies are a key immune feature that links the TB pathogen to innate and adaptive immunity. The Grace lab uses human and mouse models to:

1. Understand the interaction of antibodies with TB antigens

2. Identify humoral immune correlates in TB patients associated with favorable infection outcomes

3. Define antibody-Fc driven mechanisms that promote bacterial restriction by immune cells