E. John Wherry, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Microbiology

Department of Microbiology
Perelman School of Medicine
University of Pennsylvania
312 Biomedical Research Building II/III
421 Curie Blvd.
Philadelphia, PA 19104

TEL 215-746-8141
LAB 215-898-2873
FAX 215-746-8294
wherry@mail.med.upenn.edu



Lab Website

RESEARCH SUMMARY
The Wherry Lab focuses on host-microbial interactions with an emphasis on viral infections. A major goal of the research in Dr. Wherry's laboratory is to understand the mechanisms of T cell exhaustion during chronic infections. Our previous work studying CD8 T cell responses during chronic viral infections has demonstrated that virus-specific CD8 T cells often lose effector functions and fail to acquire key memory T cell properties such as homeostatic proliferation (i.e. become exhausted). Using a variety of approaches including multiparameter flow cytometry, systems biology and global gene expression profiling and genetically modified mice we are defining cellular and transcriptional pathways involved in T cell exhaustion and normal memory T cell differentiation.

Some of areas of considerable current interest for the lab include inhibitory receptors (e.g. PD-1, LAG-3), transcription factors and inflammatory pathways. In addition, we are examining how co-infection with two pathogens can impact T cell memory.

Other studies in the lab are investigating the mechanisms of T cell mediated protective immunity to influenza virus, enteric viral infection and age-related changes in T cell immunity in both mice and humans.

Lab Rotation Projects:
1) Regulatory mechanisms during chronic viral infections and other settings
2) Co-infection
3) Transcriptional regulation of T cell differentiation
4) Defining exhaustion-specific genes for development of novel mouse strains and molecular tools
5) Molecular program of subpopulations of exhausted and memory T cells

Lab Personnel:
Mohammed Ali- Technician
Jill Angelosanto- Graduate Student
Burton Barnett – Graduate Student
Karen Chachu – GI Fellow
Douglas Dolfi- Postdoctoral Fellow
Ramin Herati – ID Fellow
Jonathan Johnnidis- Graduate Student
Andy Johnson - Postdoctoral Fellow
Makoto Kurachi – Postdoctoral Fellow
Kate Mansfield - Technician/Lab Manager
Pamela Odorizzi – Graduate Student
Michael Paley - Graduate Student
Erietta Stelekati - Postdoctoral Fellow
Vesselin Tomov - GI Fellow