Meet our Team

Primary Investigator - Jianxun Song, PhD

Description:

Dr. Jianxun (Jim) Song received his Ph.D. in Immunology from The Third Military Medical University in 1998, China, and did his postdoctoral training with Dr. Michael Croft in the La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology at San Diego, CA. In 2007, Dr. Song was recruited to the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine and went through the tenure process. In 2017 Dr. Song moved his laboratory to the Texas A&M University Health Science Center and is currently a professor in the Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology.

Awards and Honors:

2022 - 2023 AAI Laboratory Travel Grant (Portland, Washington DC)
2022 AAI Immunology Fellowship (with postdoctoral scholar Dr. Jugal Das)
2019 AAI Travel Grant to International Congress of Immunology (Beijing, China)

Research Support:

NIH/NCI (1R01CA221867)
DoD (LC210361)
NIH/NIAID (1R21 AI167793)
NIH/NIAMS (1R21AR083057)
NIH/NCI (1R01 CA273002)
ARPA-H (P0080)
NIH/NCI (1R01CA282254)

Areas of focus:

Pioneering T-Cell Immunity and Metabolic Regulation
Targeting Immunomodulatory Pathways
Innovative Strategies for Cancer Immunotherapy
Advancing Immunotherapy for Autoimmune Disorders

Learn More

Research Scientist & Post Docs

Assistant Research Scientist

Anil Kumar, PhD

Education:

PhD, National Centre for Cell Science, Pune, India.
Post-Doc, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia.
Post-Doc, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX.

Research:

Currently working on elucidating the role of NAC1 deficient T reg cells and CD8 T cells in tumor immunotherapy. My research goal is to study the role of NAC1 in regulation of T cell metabolism and their effect on T cell function in tumor microenvironment (TME).

Publications

Post-Doctoral Researcher

Rakesh Kumar, PhD

Education:

PhD, Molecular Virology and Immunology, Guwahati, India.
Post-Doc, University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA.

Research:

An advancing cancer immunotherapy by combining bacterial treatments with adoptive T cell transfer. The work explores bacterial roles in tumor prevention, therapeutic and CAR T cell enhancement, alongside studying bacterial effects on gene expression related to Pyroptosis and PANtopsis.

Publications

Post-Doctoral Researcher

Sunilgowda S Nagaraja, PhD

Education:

PhD- SASTRA University, Tamil Nadu, India.
Post-Doc, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.

Research:

My research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms of immunogenic cell death pathways within the lung cancer-induced tumor microenvironment (TME). Additionally, I am investigating epigenetic factors and cell signaling mechanisms involved in TME.

Publications

Post-Doctoral Researcher

Xinlei Guo

Education:

B.S., Food Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China
PhD, Nutrition, Texas A&M University, College Station, US

Research:

My research focuses on understanding the immunometabolism underlying chronic liver diseases and cancer. Previously, I investigated the pathophysiological basis of diet-induced fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes. Currently, I aim to elucidate how bacteria-derived immunotherapies modulate the tumor microenvironment in mouse models of hepatocellular carcinoma, with an emphasis on innate and adaptive immune responses.

Publications

PhD Students

Christina James Thomas

PhD Student, Texas A&M University, IMSD T32 Trainee

September 2023 - Present

Education:

BSc Biology, University of North Texas at Dallas

Research Area:

The project uses a live-attenuated Brucella melitensis strain to deliver tumor antigens and modulate the tumor microenvironment, aiming to enhance antigen-specific T cell responses and improve anti-tumor immunity in melanoma and other cancers.

Publications

Kaylee Delgado

PhD Student, Texas A&M University, IMSD T32 Trainee

September 2023 - Present

Education:

BSc Biology, St.Edward's University
Msc Integrated Biomedical Sciences, Rush University Medical Center

Research Area:

I am investigating a novel immunotherapeutic strategy for Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) by utilizing a metabolically engineered bacterium, Brucella melitensis. This strain is designed to produce indole, which has immunomodulatory effects, particularly in promoting anti-inflammatory macrophages and enhancing regulatory T cell (Treg) function. My research focuses on evaluating this engineered strain in spontaneous T1D mouse models to determine its therapeutic potential in reducing autoimmune responses and preserving pancreatic β-cells. This work aims to establish a bacterium-based, sustainable alternative to current insulin therapies for T1D.

Publications

Darby J. Ballard

PhD Student, Texas A&M University

January 2020 - Present

Education:

BSc Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University

Awards:

Southernland Leadership Award
Texas A&M School of Medicine Meritorious Award

Research Area:

My research findings highlight eEF2K as a key regulator of Treg metabolism and function. eEF2K-deficient Tregs shift toward glycolysis, exhibit increased apoptosis, and fail to suppress inflammation, exacerbating IBD. We aim to explore whether targeting eEF2K can restore Treg function and mitigate colitis, further investigating its role in immune homeostasis

Publications

Shan Xu

PhD Student, Texas A&M University

January 2025 - Present

Education:

BSc Nursing, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine
BSc Human Nutrition, Kansas State University,
MS Nutrition, Dietetics, and Sensory Science, Kansas State University

Awards:

Global Food System, Seed Grant Interview

Research Area:

I am investigating the use of metabolically engineered live-attenuated Brucella melitensis strain as a novel immunotherapeutic approach for the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). By integrating immunological assays, histopathological analyses, and molecular techniques, I aim to elucidate the therapeutic potential and underlying mechanisms by which bacterial-based immunotherapy can be leveraged to combat MS.

Publications