This laboratory focuses on two main research areas:

(a) Elucidating the role of mast cells in modulating immune responses to microbial pathogens.
Our studies have revealed that mast cells play a key sentinel role and upon bacterial or viral infection, modulate both innate and adaptive immune responses through the release of immunomodulatory molecules borne in granules. Our current investigations are centered on elucidating the molecular and cellular aspects of how mast cells mediate their immunomodulatory role. We are also examining several mast cell-targeted strategies to boost immunity to infections as well as reduce any pathological consequences of infection.

(b) Investigating cross-talk between the immune system and distinct infectious agents such as Uropathogenic E. coli, Salmonella typhimurium and Yersinia pestis.
We have recognized that different pathogens possess distinct mechanisms to evade or coopt one or more immune cells to establish infection. Our studies now dwell on developing novel pathogen-specific strategies to combat infection.

Please see  Pub Med for current listings.

Book Sections

• Abraham, SN, Sharon, N, Ofek, I, and Schwartzman, JD. "Adhesion and Colonization." In Molecular Medical Microbiology: Second Edition, 409-421. November 26, 2014
• Ofek, I, Bayer, EA, and Abraham, SN. "Bacterial adhesion." In The Prokaryotes: Human Microbiology, 107-123. November 1, 2013

Conference Papers

• Yang, B, Suwanpradid, J, Sanchez-Lagunes, R, Choi, HW, Hoang, P, Wang, D, Abraham, SN, and MacLeod, AS. "IL-27 Facilitates Skin Wound Healing through Induction of Epidermal Proliferation and Host Defense." May 2017
• Choi, HW, Brooking, R, Neupane, S, Lee, C-J, Miao, E, Staats, HF, and Abraham, SN. "Salmonella Typhimurium Impedes Innate Immunity With a Mast Cell-Suppressing Tyrosine Phosphatase Sptp." February 2014
• Johnson, BT, Kulis, M, Abraham, SN, Burks, AW, and Staats, HF. "Nasal Immunization with Peanut Antigen and The Cationic Peptide Adjuvant Mastoparan 7 Induces Serum Humoral Immunity That Protects Peanut Allergic Mice Against Systemic Anaphylaxis." February 2012

Journal Articles

• St John, AL, Ang, WXG, Rathore, APS, and Abraham, SN. "Reprograming immunity to food allergens." The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology (February 5, 2018)
• Ali, ASM, Mowbray, C, Lanz, M, Stanton, A, Bowen, S, Varley, CL, Hilton, P, Brown, K, Robson, W, Southgate, J, Aldridge, PD, Tyson-Capper, A, Abraham, S, Pickard, RS, and Hall, J. "Targeting Deficiencies in the TLR5 Mediated Vaginal Response to Treat Female Recurrent Urinary Tract Infection." Scientific Reports 7, no. 1 (December 2017)
• Miao, Y, Bist, P, Wu, J, Zhao, Q, Li, Q-J, Wan, Y, and Abraham, SN. "Collaboration between Distinct Rab Small GTPase Trafficking Circuits Mediates Bacterial Clearance from the Bladder Epithelium." Cell host & microbe 22, no. 3 (September 2017): 330-342.e4
• Wu, J, Miao, Y, and Abraham, SN. "The multiple antibacterial activities of the bladder epithelium." Annals of translational medicine 5, no. 2 (January 2017): 35-. (Review)
• Choi, HW, Bowen, SE, Miao, Y, Chan, CY, Miao, EA, Abrink, M, Moeser, AJ, and Abraham, SN. "Loss of Bladder Epithelium Induced by Cytolytic Mast Cell Granules." Immunity 45, no. 6 (December 2016): 1258-1269
• Hayes, BW, and Abraham, SN. "Innate Immune Responses to Bladder Infection." Microbiology spectrum 4, no. 6 (December 2016). (Review)
• Ang, WXG, Church, AM, Kulis, M, Choi, HW, Burks, AW, and Abraham, SN. "Mast cell desensitization inhibits calcium flux and aberrantly remodels actin." The Journal of clinical investigation 126, no. 11 (November 2016): 4103-4118
• Karhausen, J, and Abraham, SN. "How mast cells make decisions." Journal of Clinical Investigation 126, no. 10 (October 2016): 3735-3738
• Chan, KR, Wang, X, Saron, WAA, Gan, ES, Tan, HC, Mok, DZL, Zhang, SL-X, Lee, YH, Liang, C, Wijaya, L, Ghosh, S, Cheung, YB, Tannenbaum, SR, Abraham, SN, St John, AL, Low, JGH, and Ooi, EE. "Cross-reactive antibodies enhance live attenuated virus infection for increased immunogenicity." Nature microbiology (September 19, 2016): 16164-