Our Expertise
Respiratory T cell Immunity
CD8 T cells provide critical protection against reinfection with rapidly changing viruses like influenza. Studies in mice have shown that this protection is driven in part by tissue-resident memory (TRM) T cells that remain in the lungs and airways, ready to respond to future infections. However, both natural influenza infection and live attenuated influenza vaccines fail to generate long-lasting protection in humans, suggesting that lung TRM cells may not be maintained over time. Our research has revealed that unique features of the respiratory environment shape how TRM cells develop and persist, balancing effective immunity with protection from tissue damage. Understanding these processes will help guide the development of new strategies to promote durable antiviral immunity against influenza and other respiratory viruses that remain major public health challenges.
Neonatal Immunity
Infants enter the world with developing immune system and lack the protection provided by infection-induced memory T cells, leaving them vulnerable to their first pathogen encounters. While some respiratory infections can be life-threatening early in life, infants tolerate others remarkably well. This led us to ask: how are immune responses that are both effective and appropriately controlled established during early life? We hypothesize that the thymus plays a central role by creating a specialized environment that supports the development of unique T cells tailored to protect the newborn rapidly, but with carefully regulated longevity. These early-life T cells include innate-like populations such as an uncharacterized pool of CD8+ γδ T cells and virtual memory T cells that exhibit memory-like properties without prior infection, both enriched in the lung. Because developing T cells have an increased potential for self-reactivity, we posit these responses are balanced by the enhanced regulatory capacity of perinatal regulatory T cells. Our research seeks to understand how these early-life T cells are programmed in the thymus, how they populate tissues such as the lung, and how they cooperatively function during infection. Insights from this work may inform new approaches to improve neonatal health, as well as broader therapeutic strategies to enhance thymic function, improve thymic transplantation outcomes, and promote immune regeneration after injury or age-related decline.
Scientific Community Engagement
The Klonowski Lab is committed to fostering a culture of mentorship, collaboration, and scientific communication. Trainees receive multi-level mentorship that develops technical expertise & professional skills for diverse career paths, while our research benefits from large, multidisciplinary collaborations that highlight the power of team-based science. Dr. Klonowski contributes to scientific outreach through cohosting a science podcast and serving on the AAI Public Outreach Committee, & the entire lab engages the broader community by hosting annual hands-on science experiences for HS students. Together, these efforts create an inclusive scientific environment that values diverse perspectives and invites people from all backgrounds to learn, contribute, and participate in science.