Project Summary 

Immunological memory enables the body to respond rapidly to previously encountered pathogens. However, it can also sustain harmful responses to allergens. This project investigates how diet and obesity influence the formation of memory B cells and antibody-producing plasma cells, focusing on mechanisms relevant to food allergy and atopic dermatitis. We investigate whether a high-fat diet alters cellular metabolism, mitochondrial DNA, and the gene-regulatory programs that control B cell differentiation. Particular attention is given to IgE-producing plasma cells and memory B cell populations associated with allergic responses. The project also examines how diet affects follicular helper T cells and their interactions with B cells in germinal centers, where antibody responses are refined and immune memory develops. Using mouse models of allergic sensitization, we combine single-cell analyses of gene expression, chromatin accessibility, and mitochondrial DNA with spectral flow cytometry and functional measurements of cellular metabolism. These complementary approaches allow us to connect molecular changes with the metabolic activity and function of individual immune cell populations. Our goal is to understand how dietary and metabolic factors shape persistent allergic antibody responses and to identify pathways that could become targets for future treatments. In the longer term, these findings may also support the development of approaches to distinguish patient groups based on their immune and metabolic profiles.