2 12 18
28
32 1a 2a

Faculty

61 16
19
1b
34

Kellie Ann Jurado, PhD

78 faculty photo 45
Presidential Assistant Professor
7 63
Department: Microbiology
4 1 23
1f Graduate Group Affiliations 8 a
b
1d
46 Contact information
40
3450 Hamilton Walk
35 Stemmler Hall 474A
Philadelphia, PA 19104
26
2e Office: 215-573-6378
3e Lab: 215-573-7459
18
a9 12
4 3 3 3 2 4 b 1f
13 Education:
21 9 B.S. 22 (Biology, Microbiology) c
34 New Mexico State University, 2011.
21 a Ph.D. 41 (Virology Program in the Division of Medical Sciences) c
2b Harvard University, 2015.
c
3 27 5 3 3 92 Permanent link
2 29
 
1d
25
21
b6 > Perelman School of Medicine   > Faculty   > Details a
1e 1d
76

Description of Research Expertise

1fa We study early life immunity using emerging viruses. The long-term goal of our research is to uncover basic immunobiological mechanisms that underlie and regulate immune responses in utero through early life. We ask questions about immune system function, kinetics, regulation and development during pregnancy and as a neonate in two distinct contexts: under healthy homeostatic conditions and after inflammatory insults (maternal or paternal-restricted and/or local congenital infection).
8
25e We leverage emerging viruses as biological probes to decode early life immunity. Emerging virus pathogenesis, through disruption, can reveal important host immune networks that lead to the discovery of critical host immune functions. Since early immune exposures influence life-long health, deciphering molecular mechanisms associated with fetal immune system development could hold the key for disease intervention even prior to onset. The ultimate objective of our efforts is to describe fundamental immunobiology in order to discover and identify opportunity to improve offspring health outcomes.
e 29
23

Selected Publications

16e T Miller-Ensminger, AD Campbell, EA Kennedy, MN Lamonica, C Murphy, GS Lee, M Weller, M Arreguin, MS Merlino, SG Negatu, P Hewins, CC Conine, and KA Jurado: Acute paternal immune activation shapes embryonic development and protects offspring from viral infection. bioRxiv [Preprint] Mar 2026.

140 Merlino MS, Barksdale B, Negatu SG, Philip DT, Clements RL, Miller-Ensminger T, Lopez AL, Mani S, Mainigi MN, Hunter CA, and Jurado KA: Interluekin-27 is antiviral against Zika virus at the maternal-fetal interface. Nature Communications Dec 2025.

115 Bannerman C, Philip DT, Miller-Ensminger T, Kennedy E, Liu S, Walsh K, Ming GL, and Jurado KA: Oropouche virus disrupts neurodevelopment and is vertically transmitted. Research Square [Preprint] Sep 2025.

109 Negatu SG and Jurado KA: Targeting pathogenic interferon-stimulated gene RSAD2 improves pregnancy outcomes in systemic lupus erythematosus models. Cell Reports Medicine 6(3): 102034, Mar 2025.

11b Negatu SG, Vazquez CV, Bannerman C, Amses KR, Ming GL, and Jurado KA: Bystander neuronal progenitors in forebrain organoids promote protective antiviral responses. Journal of Neuroinflammation 22(65), Mar 2025.

14a Simoni MK*, Negatu SG*, Park JY, Mani S, Arreguin MC, Amses K, Huh DD, Mainigi MN, and Jurado KA: Type I interferon exposure of an implantation-on-a-chip device alters invasive extravillous trophoblast function. Cell Reports Medicine 6(3): 101991, Mar 2025.

12f Vazquez CV, Negatu SG, Bannerman C, Sriram S, Ming GL, Jurado KA: Antiviral immunity within neural stem cells distinguishes Enterovirus-D68 strain differences in forebrain organoids. Journal of Neuroinflammation 21(288), Nov 2024.

148 Andreeva L, Bosurgi L, Chong SZ, Chu C, Ge Y, Hoste E, Jurado KA, Lengefeld J, Mishra A, Wculek S, Young A: Women in STEM becoming independent: Our shared motivation and enthusiasm are our driving force. Journal of Experimental Medicine 221(8), Aug 2024.

144 Clements R, Negatu S, Kennedy EA, Song D, Campbell A, An HH, Amses KR, Miller-Ensminger T, Addison MM, Eisenlohr LC, Chou ST, and Jurado KA: Human erythroid progenitor’s express functional antigen presentation machinery. bioRxiv [Preprint] Jun 2024.

155 Griesman T, McMillen CM, Negatu SG, Hulahan JJ, Whig K, Dohnalová L, Dittmar M, Thaiss CA, Jurado KA, Schultz DC, Hartman AL, Cherry S: The lipopeptide Pam3CSK4 inhibits Rift Valley fever virus infection and protects from encephalitis. PLoS Pathogens 20(6), Jun 2024.

2c
7 1d
2c back to top
26 Last updated: 03/16/2026
34 The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania c
1f
27
24
 
1d
18
1 49 2 2 1a 32 34
19
12 12 1a 14