Chinaemerem U. Onyishi, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health Area of Research: All Cancers Antigen presentation is a process where foreign particles, such as pathogens, cancers, and allergens, are displayed to adaptive immune cells. These cells can then initiate specialized and tailored responses to destroy foreign invaders. If non-self-particles are inefficiently presented to the adaptive immune system, they can allow tumors and pathogens to continue to grow within the body and cause devastating disease. A class of immune cells called dendritic cells are a major focus of research into antigen presentation. However, there are suggestions of non-conventional antigen presentation pathways involving soluble proteins that are yet to be subjected to the same level of research. In this proposal, Dr. Onyishi will investigate the role of one such soluble protein, soluble Mannose Receptor (sMR), in antigen presentation. sMR is derived from the cleavage of its membrane-bound counterpart, MR. MR, known for its role in pathogen engulfment, is also highly expressed in cancer samples and is correlated with increased tumor size and metastasis. Therefore, Dr. Onyishi’s project seeks to understand how MR and sMR impact adaptive immune responses, with a focus on their role in antigen presentation. This will broaden our understanding of a non-conventional antigen presentation pathway, revealing a unique target for immunotherapy. Moreover, Dr. Onyishi’s proposal argues we can exploit sMR to boost the effectiveness of vaccines, particularly against cancers, fungi, and allergens. Overall, the expected outcomes of this project will have far-reaching implications for our understanding of basic immunology and inform novel strategies for immunotherapy development. Dr. Onyishi is supported by the CRI Irvington Postdoctoral Fellowship to Promote Racial Diversity. Projects and Grants Soluble mannose receptor as a novel mechanism of antigen presentation to the adaptive immune system National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH | All Cancers | 2024 | Eric Dang, PhD
