Shaunna R. Simmons

CD73 controls neutrophil responsiveness to type I interferon impairing antibacterial responses during secondary pneumococcal pneumonia

This study identifies CD73 as a regulator of neutrophil responsiveness to type I interferon, which impairs antibacterial responses during secondary pneumococcal pneumonia following influenza A virus infection.

Basal activation of ERK1/2 blunts the antimicrobial activity of neutrophils from aged hosts against antibody opsonized Streptococcus pneumoniae

This study shows that aged neutrophils have impaired antimicrobial activity against antibody-opsonized pneumococci due to imbalanced ERK1/2 activation, which can be improved by ERK1/2 inhibition.

Adenosine 2B receptor signaling impairs vaccine-mediated protection against pneumococcal infection in young hosts by blunting neutrophil killing of antibody opsonized bacteria

This study shows that adenosine 2B receptor signaling impairs neutrophil killing of antibody-opsonized pneumococci in young vaccinated mice, reducing vaccine efficacy, but not in aged mice.