Michail Lionakis, MD, ScD

Chief, Fungal Pathogenesis Section
Deputy Chief, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology

Dr. Lionakis' laboratory research focuses on 1) better understanding the genetic and immune defects that underlie enhanced susceptibility to mucocutaneous and invasive fungal infections in humans, on 2) cellular and molecular factors that regulate the immune response against mucosal and invasive fungal disease in clinically relevant animal models, and on 3) developing mechanistic insights and mechanism-based treatment interventions for the organ-specific autoimmune manifestations of patients with AIRE deficiency. To this end, the lab utilizes in vitro cell culture systems and mouse models of mucosal, cutaneous, pulmonary, and/or systemic infections by various pathogenic fungi (e.g., Candida, Aspergillus, others), enrolls patients with inherited and acquired susceptibility to fungal infections, and studies AIRE deficiency in mice and the world’s largest patient cohort of this monogenic disease to study host-fungal interactions and autoimmune mechanisms by using a variety of immunological, biological, and imaging approaches.

Suggested Penn mentors: Jonathan Miner, Neil Romberg