Michael I. Zimmer, Ph.D.

Office: Gyte 282
Telephone: (219) 989-2491
Email: mzimmer@calumet.purdue.edu

Education

B.S. Biology, California Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA

Ph.D. Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

Research Interests

My research is focused on elucidating the function of lipid-reactive T cells in health and disease. T cells recognize lipid antigens in the context of CD1 proteins, a family of nonclassical, MHC class I-like molecules. Lipid antigen-specific T cells have been identified in patients infected with M. tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis, and in patients with multiple sclerosis. However, the precise role of these cells in infectious and autoimmune diseases is unclear. To address these issues, we are studying lipid-reactive T cells in the cynomolgus macaque. A better understanding of lipid-reactive T cells may lead to novel therapeutic and vaccination strategies using lipid antigens.

Selected Publications:

Michael I. Zimmer, Hanh Nguyen, Bin Wang, Honglin Xu, Angela Colmone, Kyrie Felio, Hak-Jong Choi, Ping Zhou, Maria-Luisa Alegre, and Chyung-Ru Wang.  Polymorphisms in CD1d Affect Antigen Presentation and CD1d-Restricted T Cell Responses.  PNAS. 2009; 106:1909-14.

Michael I. Zimmer, Angela Colmone, Kyrie Felio, Honglin Xu, Averil Ma, and Chyung-Ru Wang.  A Cell-Type Specific CD1d Expression Program Modulates iNKT Cell Development and Function.  J. Immunol. 2006; 176:1421-1430.

Yuequan Shen, Natalia L. Zhukovskaya, Michael I. Zimmer, Sandriyana Soelaiman, Pamela Bergson, Chyung-Ru Wang, Craig S. Gibbs, and Wei-Jen Tang.  Selective inhibition of anthrax edema factor by adefovir, a drug for chronic hepatitis B virus infection.  PNAS. 2004; 101:3242-3247.

Larry A. Harshyne, Michael I. Zimmer, Simon C. Watkins, and Simon M. Barratt-Boyes.  A Role for Class A Scavenger Receptor in Dendritic Cell Nibbling from Live Cells.  J. Immunol. 2003; 170:2302-2309.

Simon M. Barratt-Boyes, Michael I. Zimmer, Larry Harshyne.  Changes in Dendritic Cell Migration and Activation During SIV Infection Suggest a Role in Initial Viral Spread and Eventual Immunosuppression.  J. Med. Primatol. 2002; 31:1-8.

Michael I. Zimmer, Adriana T. Larregina, Cielo M. Castillo, Saverio Capuano III, Louis D. Falo, Jr., Michael Murphey-Corb, Todd A. Reinhart, and Simon Barratt-Boyes.  Disrupted Homeostasis of Langerhans Cells and Interdigitating Dendritic Cells in Monkeys with AIDS.  Blood. 2002; 99:2859-2868.

Simon M. Barratt-Boyes, Michael I. Zimmer, Larry A. Harshyne, E. Michael Meyer, Simon C. Watkins, Saverio Capuano III, Michael Murphey-Corb, Louis D. Falo, Jr., and Albert D. Donnenberg.  Maturation and Trafficking of Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells in Monkeys:  Implications for Dendritic Cell-Based Vaccines.  J. Immunol. 2000; 164:2487-2495.

Courses

BIOL 221 - Introduction to Microbiology