Jose M. Lemme Dumit, PhD

National University of Tucuman, Biochemistry, Orientation: Clinical Biochemistry, Immunology and Microbiology, 2013

National University of Tucuman, Ph.D., Mucosal Immunology, 2018

University of Maryland School of Medicine, Postdoctoral Fellow, 2023 

Dr. Lemme investigates the interactions between immune cells and mucosal surfaces to advance understanding of how immunity can be enhanced through targeted interventions and to uncover the mechanisms underlying these processes. His primary research interests include mucosal immunity, neonatal and infant immune development, and pediatric immunology. His work focuses on two complementary areas: (1) microbe-specific immunity, where he studies mucosal immune responses to diarrheal pathogens and commensal microorganisms, (2) maternal influences on infant immunity, examining how maternal factors, particularly breast milk, shape infant immune development with long-term consequences for health and disease susceptibility. These insights are critical for optimizing pediatric immunization strategies and informing public health interventions.

Dr. Lemme employs advanced human tissue stem cell–derived organoid models that faithfully recapitulate the structure and function of mucosal tissues. His laboratory develops and applies intestinal organoids (enteroids and colonoids) as well as adenoid- and tonsil-derived organoids to investigate the mechanisms of local immune cell interactions. Through this innovative research, Dr. Lemme seeks to define fundamental principles of mucosal immunity and translate them into strategies that improve child health globally.

Immunology, mucosal immunology, immune responses, host-pathogen interactions, maternal-infant interactions, neonatal immunity, tissue stem cell-derived organoid models

Lemme-Dumit JM, Doucet M, Zachos NC, Pasetti MF. Epithelial and Neutrophil Interactions and Coordinated Response to Shigella in a Human Intestinal Enteroid-Neutrophil Coculture Model. mBio. 2022 Jun 28;13(3):e0094422.

Noel G, In JG, Lemme-Dumit JM, DeVine LR, Cole RN, Guerrerio AL, Campbell JD, Kovbasnjuk O, Pasetti MF. Human Breast Milk Enhances Intestinal Mucosal Barrier Function and Innate Immunity in a Healthy Pediatric Human Enteroid Model. Front Cell Dev Biol. 2021 Jul 13;9:685171.

Lemme-Dumit JM, Song Y, Lwin HW, Hernandez-Chavez C, Sundararajan S, Viscardi RM, Ravel J, Pasetti MF, Ma B. Altered Gut Microbiome and Fecal Immune Phenotype in Early Preterm Infants With Leaky Gut. Front Immunol. 2022 Feb 23;13:815046. 

Lemme-Dumit JM. Intestinal organoid models as tools to interrogate the physiology of human mucosal tissues and host-microbe interactions. mSphere. 2025 Aug 26;10(8):e0082024. doi: 10.1128/msphere.00820-24.