Susan Tonkonogy, PhD
Director, of the Gnotobiotic Animal Core of the Center for Gastrointestinal Biology and Disease.
Director, Immunology Graduate Program
PhD: Harvard University
Post Doctoral:
1) Swiss Institute for Experimental
Cancer Research
2) Duke University Medical Center
Phone: 919-513-6252
Fax: 919-513-6464
Email: sue_tonkonogy@ncsu.edu
Research Area
Mucosal immunology
Current Research
My current research focuses on the role of cytokines in the immune response of the intestinal tract. Our studies are designed to determine how the intestinal immune response is involved in initiation and perpetuation of chronic intestinal inflammation that occurs in human inflammatory bowel disease.
Current Projects
Mechanisms of Colitis Induced by Defined Bacterial Antigens
Rodent model systems of chronic intestinal inflammation are now well established. Using HLA-B27 transgenic rats, we have previously shown that the microflora of the intestinal tract plays a direct role in the initiation of colitis. The focus of our current studies is to identify the mechanisms by which commensal microbiota induce pathogenic immune responses that cause chronic intestinal inflammation in genetically susceptible hosts and protective responses in normal hosts. We are addressing the following hypotheses:
- Chronic intestinal inflammation in genetically susceptible hosts is caused by dysregulated cell-mediated immune responses to defined bacterial antigens unique to each host.
- Nonresponsiveness (tolerance) in normal hosts is mediated by carefully regulated interactions between innate immune cells and T cells that inhibit pathogenic responses to commensal enteric bacteria.
Colitis Induced by Immune Responses to Luminal Bacteria
The aim of our current studies is to elucidate the role of virulence gene products on the development of enterocolitis in IL-10 deficient mice. Our hypothesis is that persistent exposure of previously germ-free mice to invasive, translocating, intracellular commensal bacteria induces bacterial antigen-driven T cell responses that cause chronic intestinal inflammation.
Current Collaborators
Dr. R. Balfour Sartor, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, School of Medicine
Dr. S. Kim, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, School of Medicine
Recent Publications
Qian B-F, Tonkonogy SL, and Sartor RB. 2008. Reduced responsiveness of HLA-B27 transgenic rat cells to TGF-b and IL-10-mediated regulation of IFN-g production. Inflamm Bowel Dis 14:921-30.
Qian B-F, Tonkonogy SL, Sartor RB. 2008. Aberrant innate immune responses in TLR-ligand activated HLA-B27 transgenic rat cells. Inflamm Bowel Dis 14:1358-65.
Albright CA, Sartor RB, Tonkonogy SL. 2009 Endogenous antigen presenting cell-derived IL-10 inhibits T lymphocyte responses to commensal enteric bacteria. Immunol Lett 123:77-87.
Moran JP, Walter J, Tannock GW, Tonkonogy SL, Sartor RB. 2009. Bifidobacterium animalis causes extensive duodenitis and mild colonic inflammation in monoassociated interleukin-10 deficient mice. Inflamm Bowel Dis 15:1022-1031.
Lab Personnel
Anna Yedinak – Research Technician
Contact Information:
Room B315, 513-6359
Room B313, 513-6458
Facilities
Gnotobiotic Animal Core