We use a systems immunology approach to investigate host immune-microbe interactions that are important for reproductive health and disease. This combines analysis of clinical specimens, model systems and bioinformatics tools to identify potential interactions.
Research Information
Research Projects
Our research focuses on host-microbe interactions that influence human reproductive health and disease. We are particularly interested in reproductive mucosal immunology, sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy and preterm birth, and the microbiome. Our laboratory employs a systems immunology approach to study these interactions including immunological assays, flow cytometry, cytokine analysis, mass spectrometry, 16s rRNA sequencing, and single cell RNA sequencing using human cohorts, in vitro studies and mouse models.
Publications
1. Hossaena Ayele*, Michelle Perner*, Kenzie Birse, Christina Farr Zuend, Lyle McKinnon, Adam D. Burgener. (2021) An updated review on the effects of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate on mucosal biology of the female genital tract. American Journal of Reproductive Immunology 2021 May15;:e13455. doi:10.1111/aji.13455 PMID: 33991137 *These authors contributed equally
2. Christina Farr Zuend, Laura Noël-Romas, Jeanne Marrazzo, Sharon L. Hillier, Charlene Dezzutti, Kathleen Squires, Katherine E. Bunge and Adam Burgener. (2021) Influence of dapivirine vaginal ring use on cervicovaginal immunity and functional microbiome in adolescent girls. AIDS 2021, 35:369-380 PMID: 33181534
3. Laura Noël-Romas*, Michelle Perner*, Refilwe Molatlhegi*, Christina Farr Zuend, Amanda Mabula, Sarah Mutch, Alana Lamont, Kenzie Birse, Alicia Berard, Stuart McCorrister, Garett Westmacott, Al Leslie, Vanessa Poliquin, Renee Heffron, Lyle McKinnon, Adam D. Burgener. (2020) The vaginal microbiome modifies HIV acquisition risk associated with hormonal contraceptives. PLos Pathogens 16(12):31009097 PMID: 33362285 *These authors contributed equally
4. Christina Farr Zuend, Nicole Tobin, Lani Kotybra, Trisha Vera, Laura Noël-Romas, Kenzie Birse, Fan Li, David Lee, Stuart McCorrister, Garrett R. Westmacott, Grace M. Aldrovandi and Adam Burgener (2020) Pregnancy associates with increased cervicovaginal inflammation and changes to functional pathways in the vaginal microbiome. American Journal of Reproductive Immunology 2020;00:e13235 PMID: 32196803
5. Kenzie D. Birse*, Kateryna Kratzer*, Christina Farr Zuend, Sarah Mutch, Laura Noël-Romas, Alana Lamont, Max Abou, Emilia Jalil, Beatriz Grinsztejn, Ruth Khalili Friedman, Kristina Broliden, Frideborg Bradley, Vanessa Poliquin, Fan Li, Carolyn Yanavich, Adam Burgener, Grace Aldrovandi. (2020) The neovaginal microbiome of transgender women post-gender reassignment surgery. Microbiome 2020;8:61 PMID: 32370783 *These authors contributed equally
6. Christina Farr Zuend, John F. Nomellini, John Smit and Marc S. Horwitz. (2019) A Caulobacter cresecentus Microbicide Protects from Vaginal Infection with HIV-1JR-CSF in Humanized Bone Marrow-Liver-Thymus Mice. Journal of Virology 93(18)e00614-19 PMID: 31243127
7. Ming Lo, Jia Zhu, Scott Hansen, Timothy Carroll, Christina Farr Zuend, Laura Noël-Romas, Zhong-Min Ma, Linda Fritts, Meei-Li Huang, Sijie Sun, Ying Huang, David Koelle, Louis Picker, Adam Burgener, Larry Corey, and Christopher Miller (2019) Acute infection and subsequent subclinical reactivation of herpes simplex virus-2 after vaginal inoculation of rhesus macaques. Journal of Virology 93(2):e01574-18 PMID: 30333177
8. Alicia R Berard, Michelle Perner, Sarah Mutch, Christina Farr Zuend, Peter McQueen and Adam D Burgener (2018) Understanding mucosal and microbial functionality of the female reproductive tract by metaproteomics: implications for HIV transmission. American Journal of Reproductive Immunology 80(2):e12977. doi:10.1111/aji.12977 PMID: 29790240
9. Christina Farr Zuend, John F. Nomellini, John Smit and Marc S. Horwitz. (2018) Generation of a dual-target, safe, inexpensive microbicide that protects against HIV-1 and HSV-2. Scientific Reports 8(1): 2786. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-21134-1 PMID: 29434285
10. Christina Farr, John F. Nomellini, Evan Ailon, Iryna Shanina, Sassan Sangsari, Lisa A. Cavacini, John Smit, Marc S. Horwitz. (2013) Development of an HIV-1 Microbicide Based on Caulobacter crescentus: Blocking Infection by High-Density Display of Virus Entry Inhibitors. PLoS ONE 8(6): e65965. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0065965 PMID: 23840383
For a complete list of publications:
Full NCBI Bibliography