The focus in my laboratory is to study the molecular events that regulate the
genesis of an immune response. As a model system, we are investigating the role
of the gastric epithelium during the mucosal immune response to Helicobacter
pylori. We have found that the gastric epithelium has several properties that are
common to antigen presenting cells. During our work to characterize T cell
antigens in Helicobacter pylori, we discovered that the bacterium usurps
proteins that are essential to trigger the host response and uses them as
receptors to adhere to the host's epithelium. We are currently examining
pathogen-epithelial-immune interactions that are involved in pathogenesis and/or
immunity in order to identify processes that could be targeted in the
development of novel immunotherapeutic agents.
Search PubMed for Dr. Reyes' publications.