Rebecca Bauer

Graduate Student

Contact Information Email: rnbauer@mail.unc.edu Office: (919) 843-3126 Location: 543 US EPA Human Studies Facility
Education B.A., Biology (Chemistry minor), University of Pennsylvania Joined the Biological and Biomedical Sciences Program in 2009 Adviser: Ilona Jaspers
Research Interests Asthma exacerbation is a serious public health and economic concern, yet the mechanisms mediating asthma pathogenesis are not understood. Respiratory viral infections, as caused by influenza virus, and the inhalation of oxidant air pollutants, such as ozone, are the leading causes of asthma exacerbation. The respiratory epithelium is the first line of defense against the inhaled environment. Viral infections and oxidant pollutants damage airway epithelial cells and induce the production of soluble mediators that attract nearby immune cells and activate innate immune pathways. The communication between airway epithelial cells and immune cells, such as macrophages, is essential for a balanced innate immune response. Chronic airway inflammation, as caused by asthma, has been shown to upset this balance, resulting in altered innate immune responses to pathogens and pollutants and asthma pathogenesis. The objective of my research is to compare and contrast the mechanisms by which influenza and oxidant pollutants induce asthma pathogenesis to determine if the same or different pathways mediate these responses. We hypothesize that the chronic inflammatory state caused by asthma modifies innate signaling and the interaction between macrophages and airway epithelial cells, resulting in altered response to pathogens and pollutants and enhanced pathogenesis.
Publications Bauer, RN; Diaz-Sanchez, D; Jaspers I (2011). Effects of air pollutants on innate immunity: The role of Toll-like receptors and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain–like receptors. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2012 Jan;129(1):14-24. Rubenstein RC; Lockwood SR; Lide E; Bauer R; Suaud L; Grumback Y. Regulation of endogenous ENaC functional expression by CFTR and ΔF508-CFTR in airway epithelial cells. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. Epub. 2010 Oct 8. Kesic MJ; Simmons SO; Bauer R; Jaspers I. Nrf2 expression modifies influenza A entry and replication in nasal epithelial cells. Free Radic Biol Med. Epub. 2011 Apr 19.
Personal Interests Running, cooking and baking, tennis, soccer

Contact Information

Email: rnbauer@mail.unc.edu
Office: (919) 843-3126
Location: 543 US EPA Human Studies Facility

Education

B.A., Biology (Chemistry minor), University of Pennsylvania
Joined the Biological and Biomedical Sciences Program in 2009
Adviser: Ilona Jaspers

Research Interests

Asthma exacerbation is a serious public health and economic concern, yet the mechanisms mediating asthma pathogenesis are not understood. Respiratory viral infections, as caused by influenza virus, and the inhalation of oxidant air pollutants, such as ozone, are the leading causes of asthma exacerbation. The respiratory epithelium is the first line of defense against the inhaled environment. Viral infections and oxidant pollutants damage airway epithelial cells and induce the production of soluble mediators that attract nearby immune cells and activate innate immune pathways. The communication between airway epithelial cells and immune cells, such as macrophages, is essential for a balanced innate immune response. Chronic airway inflammation, as caused by asthma, has been shown to upset this balance, resulting in altered innate immune responses to pathogens and pollutants and asthma pathogenesis. The objective of my research is to compare and contrast the mechanisms by which influenza and oxidant pollutants induce asthma pathogenesis to determine if the same or different pathways mediate these responses. We hypothesize that the chronic inflammatory state caused by asthma modifies innate signaling and the interaction between macrophages and airway epithelial cells, resulting in altered response to pathogens and pollutants and enhanced pathogenesis.

Publications

Bauer, RN; Diaz-Sanchez, D; Jaspers I (2011). Effects of air pollutants on innate immunity: The role of Toll-like receptors and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain–like receptors. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2012 Jan;129(1):14-24.

Rubenstein RC; Lockwood SR; Lide E; Bauer R; Suaud L; Grumback Y. Regulation of endogenous ENaC functional expression by CFTR and ΔF508-CFTR in airway epithelial cells. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. Epub. 2010 Oct 8.

Kesic MJ; Simmons SO; Bauer R; Jaspers I. Nrf2 expression modifies influenza A entry and replication in nasal epithelial cells. Free Radic Biol Med. Epub. 2011 Apr 19.

Personal Interests

Running, cooking and baking, tennis, soccer