Allergy & Immunology
Peggy Kendall, MD
Professor and Chief, Medicine (Allergy & Immunology)
- Email: peggy.kendall@wustl.edu
The Kendall Lab studies B lymphocyte contributions to autoimmune and allergic diseases including Type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and food allergy. We discovered that B lymphocyte signaling through Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) governs development of autoreactive cells. Targeting BTK eliminates autoreactive, but not normal cells, making it an attractive therapeutic option for fighting autoimmune disease without causing immunodeficency. We also work with nanoparticle therapeutics. Finally, we have discovered that B lymphocyte signaling is important for proper IgA development, leading to extensive studies of mucosal immunity including gut health, IgA sequences and specificity, and microbiome in relationship to autoimmune disease.
Research keywords: B lymphocytes; Autoimmune disease; Microbiome
Leyao Wang, PhD, MPH
Assistant Professor, Medicine
- Email: leyao.wang@wustl.edu
My lab focuses on the human microbiome (airway and gut) and lung diseases, specifically asthma. We utilized population-based study, and molecular biology to understand how the climate change alters the human microbiome and the role of microbiome in mediating disease development.
Research keywords: microbiome; climate change; asthma