• Published: August 7, 2025
• Immunology and Inflammation
• Corresponding Author: Gail Bishop, PhD
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Research Summary:

TRAF3 is a key adaptor protein that regulates B cell survival, activation, and differentiation. This study from Gail Bishop’s lab at the University of Iowa shows that reduced TRAF3—due to genetic heterozygosity or aging—causes dose-dependent B cell dysfunction. Aged mice and humans exhibit lower TRAF3 protein levels, correlating with increased B cell disorders. Notably, proteasome inhibition restored TRAF3 in aged mice, suggesting a potential therapeutic strategy. The work highlights TRAF3’s critical role in immune regulation and the impact of its decline on age-related immune diseases.

Authors: Emma L. Hornick, Kyp Oxley, Nathaniel Wieting, Emma Treco, Bruce S. Hostager, and Gail A. Bishop

• Published: June 13, 2025
• Infection and Immunity
• Author: Filiz Korkmaz, PhD
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Research Summary:

Microbial-derived lipids and their interactions with diverse host receptors are central to immune regulation and microbial virulence, with pathogens leveraging unique lipid structures to evade detection and resist treatment. This review explores the structural and functional diversity of lipids across bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites, emphasizing their roles at the host-pathogen interface. Understanding these lipid-mediated mechanisms may unlock new therapeutic strategies targeting lipid-based immune modulation.

• Published: May 30, 2025
• mBio
• Corresponding Author: Jessica M. Tucker, PhD
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Research Summary:

This study uncovers how gammaherpesvirus infection leads to the generation of tRNA fragments from premature tRNAs, shedding light on a previously underexplored aspect of host-virus interactions. The findings suggest that viral infection disrupts tRNA maturation, resulting in the accumulation of tRNA-derived fragments (tRFs) with potential regulatory roles.

Authors: Aidan C. Manning, Mahmoud M. Bashir, Kyle Rapchak, Calyssa J. Huff, Ariana R. Jimenez, Sheila Gonzalez, Courtney L. Woodruff, Heather E. Upton, Kathleen Collins, Todd M. Lowe, Jessica M. Tucker