Luc Teyton, MD, PhD
Professor
Department of Immunology and Microbiology
Research Focus
Initiation of organ specific autoimmunity
For over 25 years, we have examined the mechanisms leading to the destruction of the b cells of the islets of Langerhans and type 1 diabetes. Our focus is twofold, understand the normal relationship of the endocrine pancreas with the immune system, and the disruption of this homeostasis leading to the initiation of disease. We posit that multiple pathways that control normal physiology are ideal targets for therapeutic intervention and the prevention of progression. These studies are performed in both mice and humans using the most sophisticated techniques of modern genetics and immunology. Collaborations allow us to span the entire field of research from islet organoids derived from stem cells, to in depth analysis of immune cells by single cell techniques, to clinical sampling of patients and at-risk populations.
Next generation of anti-microbial therapies
In the face of antibiotic resistance and the dwindling number of new antibiotics, we have taken on the challenge of producing therapeutic anti-microbial antibodies. For this purpose, we targeted the common structures that constitute the external wall and capsule of bacteria and fungi: the glycans. We circumvented the T cell independence of glycans by developing a new generation of synthetic conjugate immunogens that drive the emergence of very high affinity antibodies. In proof-of-concept studies and pre-clinical models, the efficacy of the approach has been shown for pathogenic strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae and antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Optimization of the design of procedures is guided by structural studies, new synthetic chemistry, and in-depth analysis of B and T cell responses. The ultimate goal is prevention and intervention human clinical trials.
Select Publications
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Corper, A. L.; Stratmann, T.; Apostolopoulos, V.; Scott, Christopher A.; Garcia, K. C.; Kang, A. S.; Wilson, Ian A.; Teyton, Luc A structural framework for deciphering the link between I-A(g7) and autoimmune diabetes. Science 2000, 288, 505-511.
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Polonskaya, Zinaida; Deng, Shenglou; Sarkar, Anita; Kain, Lisa; Comellas-Aragones, Marta; McKay, Craig S.; Kaczanowska, Katarzyna; Holt, Marie; McBride, Ryan; Palomo, Valle; Self, Kevin M.; Taylor, Seth; Irimia, Adriana; Mehta, Sanjay R.; Dan, Jennifer M.; Brigger, Matthew; Crotty, Shane; Schoenberger, Ste P.; Paulson, James C.; Wilson, I A.; Savage, Paul B.; Finn, M G.; Teyton, Luc T cells control the generation of nanomolar-affinity anti-glycan antibodies. 2017, 127, 1491-1504.
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Teyton, Luc; Wilson, Ian A.; Corper, A.L.; Apostolopoulos, T.; Scott, V.; Garcia, K.C.; Kamg, A. A structural framework for deciphering the link between I-Ag7 and murine autoimmune diabetes. Science 2000.
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Gioia, Louis H.; Holt, M.; Costanzo, A.; Sharma, Siddhartha M.; Abe, B.; Kain, L.; Nakayama, M.; Wan, X.; Su, Andrew; Mathews, C.; Chen, Y. G.; Unanue, E.; Teyton, Luc Position ß57 of I-Ag7 controls early anti-insulin responses in NOD mice, linking an MHC susceptibility allele to type 1 diabetes onset. Science Immunology 2019, 4, eeaw6329.
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Sharma, Siddhartha; Gioia, Louis; Abe, Brian; Holt, Marie; Costanzo, Anne; Kain, Lisa; Su, Andrew; Teyton, Luc Corrigendum to "Using single cell analysis for translational studies in immune mediated diseases: Opportunities and challenges" [Mol. Immunol. 103 (2018) 191-199]. Molecular Immunology 2019, 107, 165.
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Sharma, Siddhartha; Tan, Xuqian; Boyer, Josh; Clarke, Don; Costanzo, Anne; Abe, Brian; Kain, Lisa; Holt, Marie; Armstrong, Adrienne; Rihanek, Marynette; Su, Andrew; Speake, Cate; Gottlieb, Peter; Gottschalk, Michael; Pettus, Jeremy; Teyton, Luc Measuring anti-islet autoimmunity in mouse and human by profiling peripheral blood antigen-specific CD4 T cells. 2023, 15, eade3614.
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Clarke, Don; Costanzo, Anne; Sharma, Siddhartha; Kain, Lisa; Moremen, Kelley W.; Pettus, Jeremy; Domissy, Alain; Wu, Peng; Nguyen-Ngoc, Kim-V V.; Berti, Denise; George, Steven C.; Hughes, Christopher C W; Sander, Maike; Teyton, Luc A vascular-associated fibroblastic cell controls pancreatic islet immunity. 2025, 44, 116189.
