Krist Antunes Fernandes, Ph.D.

Research

In the Lim lab, I will investigate how eradicating parasitic infections has fostered the development of asthma and respiratory infections, specifically in the context of maternal-offspring immune crosstalk. Our immune systems have evolved in the presence of diverse microbes, including helminths. However, urban living, sanitation, antibiotics, and deworming treatment have significantly altered human microbial exposure during different stages of life, particularly during pregnancy. This change in exposure to infectious entities has altered the way our immune system functions, potentially leading to inflammation and autoimmunity. Emerging epidemiological and experimental evidence has shown that maternal microbial exposures can play a pivotal role in shaping offspring’s long-term immunity. Thus, it is possible that we may be missing critical immune education provided by our disappearing co-evolutionary partners. In my research—using an array of cutting-edge methods in molecular immunology, tissue imaging, and developmental biology—I will determine whether offspring born to mice infected with an intestinal parasite show reduced inflammation and elevated protective immune cells in their lungs. I will also identify the molecules secreted by the parasites that boost offspring immunity, work that will facilitate the development of novel therapeutic strategies for protecting infants from respiratory infections and minimizing autoimmune conditions.