Van Der Velden Research Lab
Adrianus Van Der Velden, PhD
- Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Renaissance School of Medicine
Office: (631) 632-4663
Email: A.VanDerVelden@stonybrook.edu
Stony Brook University240 Centers for Molecular Medicine
Stony Brook, NY 11794-5120
Research Program
Department
Research Interest
Research in the van der Velden laboratory focuses on the interactions between host and pathogen during Salmonella infection, with a primary emphasis on the immunology of infection. The overarching goal is to elucidate mechanisms that control the balance between the pathogen, the host, and the gut microbiota.
Current thematic projects include:
Role of inflammatory monocytes in immunity and host defense against Salmonella
Salmonella exploits gut inflammation to outcompete other microbes in the intestinal lumen and establish infection. The lab has shown that inflammatory monocytes promote nitrate-dependent Salmonella expansion in the inflamed intestine, revealing how the pathogen manipulates host immune responses to enhance disease progression. Ongoing studies continue to explore the contribution of inflammatory monocytes to Salmonella-induced colitis and persistent infection, uncovering both protective and immunosuppressive roles of these immune cells.
Inhibition of T cells by Salmonella
T cells play an essential role in clearing Salmonella infections, yet their responses are suppressed during infection by poorly understood mechanisms. The lab discovered that a bacterial asparagine hydrolase produced by Salmonella inhibits T cell activation and mediates virulence. This enzyme-driven asparagine deprivation disrupts T cell metabolic reprogramming, leading to immunosuppression. Recent findings indicate that asparagine catabolism is central to Salmonella virulence, highlighting nutrient competition as a key determinant in host-pathogen interactions.
Education
- PhD, Oregon Health and Science University, 2000
