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Timothy J. Wilson

Education

Ph.D. Immunology, Washington University in St. Louis (2007)

Research Interests

Molecular and Cellular Immunology

Leukocytes are the primary cellular component of the immune system, and different subtypes populate distinct cellular niches to carry out their functions. The vast majority of leukocytes are motile, and therefore experience a dynamic extracellular environment that requires the ability to integrate a variety of signals. Whether responding to an invading pathogen or maintaining tissue homeostasis, leukocytes must have the ability to distinguish foreign and self, as well as dangerous and innocuous, and be able to respond appropriately. The long-term goal of my research is to understand the mechanisms by which leukocytes use surface receptors to recognize pathogens, interpret their cellular microenvironment, and deliver the downstream signals governing leukocyte activation and effector functions.

Prior work has focused on uncharacterized members of the Fc Receptor-Like (FCRL) and SLAM families of cell surface receptors. My lab currently has three main project areas: 1) determining the role of Fc receptor-like 1 (FCRL1) in B cell responses to antigenic stimulation; 2) understanding the role played by B cells in resistance to multi-drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii; and 3) examining the mechanism by which SLAM-family member 9 (SLAMF9) modulates pro-inflammatory and interferon-stimulated responses to bacterial and viral infections.

Selected Publications

• Islam A , Actis LA, and Wilson TJ. 2023. “Natural antibodies mediate protection against Acinetobacter baumannii respiratory infections.” Journal of Infectious Diseases. 228(3):353-363. Doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiad069.
• Schwab NR , Young NE , Nzenwata DU , Toh E, Mikulin JA , Wilson TJ, Nelson DE, and Balish MF. 2023. “Characterization of virulence-associated traits in Mycoplasma penetrans strains acting as likely etiological agents of idiopathic non-gonococcal urethritis.” Journal of Infectious Diseases. Doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiac505.
• Rainey A, Pierce A, Deng X, Actis LA, Smith P, Kiss AJ, and Wilson TJ*. 2021. “Validation and deployment of a direct saliva RT-PCR protocol on pooled samples for COVID-19 surveillance testing.” PLOS ONE. 16(12): e0261956. Doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0261956.
• DeLuca JM , Murphy MK , Wang X, and Wilson TJ*. 2021. “FCRL1 regulates BCR-induced ERK activation through GRB2. Journal of Immunology. 207(11): 2688-2698.
• Mikulin JA , Bates BM , and Wilson TJ*. 2021. “A simplified method for separating renal MPCs using SLAMF9.” Cytometry Part A. Dec; 99(12): 1209-1217. doi: 10.1002/cyto.a.24469.
• Murphy MK , Moon JT , Skolaris AT , Mikulin JA  and Wilson TJ*. 2021. “Evidence for the loss and rescue of SLAMF9 during human evolution; implications on Dollo’s Law.” Immunogenetics. June; 73(3): 243-251. Doi: 10.1007/s00251-021-01208-7)
• Wilson TJ*, Clare S, Mikulin JA , Johnson CM, Harcourt K, Lyons PA, Dougan G, Smith KGC. 2019. “SLAMF9 is found on select subsets of antigen-presenting cells and promotes resistance to Salmonella infection.” Immunology. Doi:10.1111/imm.13169.
• Sng CCT, O’Byrne S, Prigozhin D, Bauer MR, Harvey JC, Ruhle M, Challis BG, Lear S, Roberts L, Workman S, Janowitz S, Magiera L, Doffinger R, Buckland MS, Jodrell DJ, Semple RK, Wilson TJ, Modis Y, and Thaventhiran JED*. 2018. “A Type III Complement Factor D Deficiency: Structural insights for inhibition of the alternative pathway.” Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.142(1): 311-314