Michiko Shimoda, PhD

Position: Assistant Professor, Co-Director Immune Monitoring Shared Resource

PROFILE

Immunologist with over 20 years of experience in broad human and mouse immunology with emphasis in B cell biology and antigen presenting cell functions. Conducted basic and translational research projects in the area of vaccine, autoimmune diseases and cancers with various animal disease models in academic and private institutes.

RESEARCH INTEREST

* Glycans as a tool to modulate immune response

* To identify and characterize natural glycans (human milk glycans and plant glycans) that can modulate antigen-presenting cell function and differentiation.

* To identify key signaling events in immune cells induced by glycans, which are required for glycan-mediated immune modulatory functions.

* To test immune modulatory functions of glycans in animal models of cancers, autoimmune diseases, or in vaccination.

* Immune monitoring of patients with cancers and autoimmune diseases

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

University of California at Davis, School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology,
Assistant Adjunct Professor

* The anti-inflammatory role of human milk glycans.

* Characterization of anti-inflammatory functions of human milk glycans.

* Identification of key signaling events in human dendritic cells induced by glycans, which are required for glycan-mediated anti-inflammatory functions.

(manuscript in preparation)

* Glycans as a tool for immune therapy

* Identification and characterization of natural glycans (human milk glycans and plant glycans) to modulate myeloid lineage cell function and differentiation.

Medical College of Georgia, School of Medicine,
Assistant Professor

* B cell antigen presentation in immune responses.

* Employed unique B cell restricted MHC-II conditional knockout mice to help understanding the role of B cell antigen presentation in immune response.

Utsunomiya University, Utsunomiya, Japan
Instructor

* Repertoire analysis of mucosal IgA response

* Generated over 20 IgA clones from murine Peyers’ patches using hybridoma technology.

* Characterized mucosal IgA repertoire specificity.

* Understanding the mechanism of memory B cell generation during immune response

* Studied the mechanism of high-affinity B cell selection in germinal centers.

University of Tokyo, Tokyo University of Agricultural and Technology, Tokyo, Japan
PhD

* Understanding the mechanism of high-affinity memory B cell generation for mucosal vaccine development.

* Demonstrated for the first time that high-affinity IgA memory B cells are generated through germinal center response in mucosal associated lymphoid tissues.

INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE

Research Center for Allergy and Immunology, RIKEN, Yokohama, Japan

Research Scientist

Morinaga Milk Industry CO., Tokyo, Japan

Research Scientist

TECHNICAL SKILLS

* Flowcytometry: FACSCanto, FACSFortessa and FACSAriam with multiplex flow cytometry for immune- subset markers with intracellular cytokine staining, phospho- specific flow cytometry.

* Immune-monitoring assays: ELISA assays, ELISPOT and Luminex assays.

* Immune histochemistry.

* Molecular Biology: General molecular biology techniques including PCR, quantitative RT-PCR, cloning and mutagenesis.

* Protein purification: HPLC, gel electrophoresis analysis, Western blotting.

* Antibody production: animal immunization, cell culture, hybridoma generation.

* Animal handling: mouse, rat, guinea pig, and rabbit.

* Animal models: experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, colitis, T1 diabetes, skin transplantation, adoptive lymphocyte transfer, bone marrow transfer, xenograft cancers (B16 melanoma, PEL and NHL).

EDUCATION

* Ph.D. Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
Tokyo, Japan (2002) Mucosal Immunology

* PhD course University of Tokyo
Tokyo, Japan (1990-1991) Molecular Biology

* MS University of Tokyo, Tokyo, JAPAN
Tokyo, Japan (1984-1986) Agricultural Biochemistry

AWARDS, HONORS AND FELLOWSHIPS

* Research Award (Immunology) by Becton Dickinson to study autoimmune skin diseases.

* Travel Grants from the American Association of Immunologist for attending the annual meetings and International Congress of Immunology

* Travel Grants from the NIAID to attend an annual American Association of Immunologist meeting.

* Presidential Guest Scientist of Tokyo University of Scientist in support with international collaboration on immune regulation.

* Fellowship for young overseas researchers from Japanese government in support with visiting research activity in Dr Garnett Kelsoe’s laboratory, University of Maryland.

GRANTS

* Seed grant Shimoda, M. (PI) 6/01/2016 – 05/31/2017 (UC Davis Dermatology)
“Characterizing sialyl milk oligosaccharides with anti-inflammatory functions” The major goal of this project is to characterize milk oligosaccharides with anti-inflammatory functions using in vitro culture of human dendritic cells.

* PSRP00054 Shimoda, M. (PI) 10/01/2011 – 09/30/2012 (MCG Pilot Study Research Program)
“Regulatory function of IL-10-producing CD8 T cells in immunity and autoimmunity” The major goal of this project was to define the regulatory role of IL-10 producing CD8 T cells in mouse T1 diabetes model.

* NIAID R21 AI064752-01A2 Shimoda, M. (PI) 09/30/2007 – 08/31/2011 (NIH/NIAID)
“Long-lived plasma cell differentiation” The major goal of this project was to define the role of MHC-II-restricted antigen presentation in long-lived plasma cell differentiation of memory B cells.

* NIAMS R03 5R03AR52470-2 Shimoda, M. (PI) 3/01/06-2/28/11 (NIH/NIAMS)
“B cell antigen presentation in models of B cell autoimmunity” The major goal of this project was to understand the role of MHC-II and CD40/CD40L signals in a mouse model of B cell autoimmunity.

* MCGRI grant Shimoda, M. (PI) 10/01/09-09/30/10 (Medical College of Georgia)
“Autonomous CD40 signaling in lymphomagenesis” The aim was to study the role of constitutive CD40 signaling in B malignancy.

* Matuszak Foundation for lupus research Shimoda, M. (PI) 09/01/2008 – 08/30/2009 (Matuszak Foundation, Medical College of Georgia)
“Role of stromal cell surface heat shock proteins in Lupus” The aim was to test the hypothesis that HSP90/DNA complexes displayed on the surface of dying cells trigger B cells to make self-reactive antibodies.

* MCGRI grant Shimoda, M. (PI) 08/01/04-07/31/06 (Medical College of Georgia)
“MHC-II dependent antigen presentation in long-lived plasma cell differentiation” Studies of the role of B cell MHC-II in the differentiation of long-lived plasma cells in bone marrow.

* Grant-In-Aid Shimoda, M. (PI) 04/01/02-03/31/03 (Japanese government)
“Genetic analysis of B cell memory response in LT-beta knock-out mice” The aim was to study follicular dendritc cell (FDC) function B cell memory response generation by analyzing LT-beta knockout mice, which form germinal centers without FDC networks.

NCBI bibliography