Darren J. Perkins, PhD

Duke University, Department of Biology, Durham, NC, B.S., 1996

Emory University, Depertment of Microbiology and Immunology, Atlanta, GA, Ph.D. 2003

I have been working within the areas of innate immunity and signal transduction beginning as a graduate student in the laboratory of Dr. Glen Barber at Emory University, where I began intensive research on the innate immunologic response to RNA virus infection. In particular, I worked extensively on the area of virus type I Interferon induction, and I was able to demonstrate interactions between interferon induced genes and the host protein synthesis machinery.

I next expanded my knowledge in innate immunity by pursuing training with Dr. Stefanie Vogel at the University of Maryland Baltimore (UMB). My work with Dr. Vogel has focused on Toll-Like Receptor (TLR) biology, and specifically, how bacteria are able to govern type I interferon production through various TLRs.

My current research focus involves investigation into the immunomodulatory effects of type I interferons in bacterial pathogenesis, and specifically how interferon can be immunosuppressive during Salmonella Typhimurium oral infections.

Macrophage, lipopolysaccharide, LPS, type I Interferon, Toll-Like Receptors (TLRs), Salmonella

Perkins DJ, Polumuri SK, Pennini ME, Lai W, Vogel SN. Reprogramming of murine macrophages through TLR2 confers viral resistance via TRAF3-mediated, enhanced interferon production. PLoS Pathog. 2013;9(7): Epub 2013 Jul 11.

Perkins DJ, Rajaiah R, Tennant SM, Ramachandran G, Higginson EE, Dyson TN, Vogel SN.Salmonella Typhimurium Co-Opts the Host Type I IFN System To Restrict Macrophage Innate Immune Transcriptional Responses Selectively. J Immunol. 2015 Sep 1;195(5):2461-71

Richard K, Vogel SN, Perkins DJ. Type I interferon licenses enhanced innate recognition and transcriptional responses to Francisella tularensis live vaccine strain.  Innate immunity. 2016; 22(5):363-72.