Dasom Kim, PhD

Investigating gut microbiota-regulated host immune responses in murine models of colitis. • Defining the role of the gut microbiota modulated CD4+ T cell responses in colitis by immunophenotyping and assessing microbe-specific T cell responses by T cell restimulation. • Determining both APC- and cytokine-driven mechanisms of the microbe-regulated T cell responses by utilizing various transgenic knockout mice. • Generating microbe-specific T cell hybridoma from primary cells developed the protocol. • Characterized the trafficking of intestinal APCs to the thymus in early life by fluorescence protein (KikGR) photoconversion and the impact of microbe-induced T cell responses on the pathogenic infection (PMID: 33981034). • Collaborated with Diehl lab members to identify the role of the microbe-induced macrophage responses in colitis and colorectal cancer development (PMID: 36062329). Mentored 3 graduate students, 1 undergraduate student, and 1 post-bac scholar and helped them achieving scientific techniques, scholarship awards, and successful admission to PhD program (post-bac scholar).

• Investigated the protective effect of combined anti-cytokine (IL-13 and IL-17A) treatments in asthma by examining Th2/Th17 cytokine levels and gene expressions regulated by Th2/Th17 responses (PMID: 30353972). • Assessed the effect of paternal allergen (house dust mite) exposure on asthma development in offspring.

• Defined the impact of environmental toxicant polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on human PBMC-isolated dendritic cells and T cells by performing phenotypic and functional analysis using flow cytometry and ELISA. • Collaborated with epidemiologists and contributed to discovering an association between prenatal exposure to PAHs and maternal/newborn metabolomic features (PMID: 38095785).

• Identified epigenetic regulators important for cancer progression and regulated by PAHs through protein expression analysis and immunofluorescence assay (PMID: 26149760, PMID: 28878246).

• Completed a 6-month clinical training program in clinical chemistry, hematology, microbiology, and blood bank departments and phlebotomy training. • Evaluated patient blood, urine, and stool specimens by chemical, microscopic, and bacteriologic assays for clinical diagnosis.

• Conducted phylogenetic analysis by comparing the DNA of dragonflies from various regions of the U.S.