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Pomona College
Immunology, Ophthalmology, Gene Editing

I studied molecular biology at Pomona College in Claremont, California. After graduation, I conducted research in the lab of Drs. David Rawlings and Shaun Jackson, studying B cell activation in systemic humoral autoimmunity. I am currently a graduate student in the lab of Dr. Krzysztof Palczewski studying visual biology and gene editing for inherited retinal diseases.

PUBLICATIONS
Du, S.W. and Palczewski, K. "Eye on genome editing." Journal of Experimental Medicine. 220 (5): e20230146. 17 Mar 2023.

Yan, A.L., Du, S.W.^, Palczewski, K. "Genome editing, a superior therapy for inherited retinal diseases." Vision Research. 206:108192. May 2023.

Choi, E.H., Suh, S., et al. "In vivo base editing rescues cone photoreceptors in a mouse model of early-onset inherited retinal degeneration." Nature Communications. 13(1):1-14. 5 Apr 2022.

Banskota, S., Raguram, A., Suh, S., Du, S.W., et al. "Engineered virus-like particles for efficient in vivo delivery of therapeutic proteins." Cell. 185:1-16. 20 Jan 2022.

Du, S.W. and Palczewski, K. "MicroRNA regulation of critical retinal pigment epithelial functions." Trends in Neurosciences. 45(1):78-90. Jan 2022.

Chiang, K. et al. "Cutting Edge: A Threshold of B Cell Costimulatory Signals Is Required for Spontaneous Germinal Center Formation in Autoimmunity." Journal of Immunology. 207(9): 2217-2222. 1 Nov 2021.

Jacobs, H.M.*, Arkatkar, T.*, Du, S.W.*, et al. "TACI haploinsufficiency protects against BAFF‐driven humoral autoimmunity in mice." European Journal of Immunology. 51:2225-2236. doi:10.1002/eji.202149244. 19 Jun 2021.

Santos, P.M., et al. "Impact of checkpoint blockade on cancer vaccine–activated CD8+ T cell responses." Journal of Experimental Medicine. 217 (7): e20191369. 5 May 2020.

Du, S.W.*, Arkatkar, T.*, et al. "Functional Characterization of CD11c+ Age-Associated B Cells as Memory B Cells." Journal of Immunology. 203(11):2817-2826. 21 Oct 2019.

Du, S.W.*, Arkatkar, T.*, et al. “Generation of functional CD11c+ age-associated murine B cells in the absence of B cell T-bet expression.” European Journal of Immunology. 49(1): 170-178. 7 Jan 2019.

Benayahu, Y., et al. “The Octocorals of Dongsha Atoll (South China Sea): An Iterative Approach to Species Identification Using Classical Taxonomy and Molecular Barcodes.” Zoological Studies. 57(50). 3 Dec 2018.

Du, S.W., et al. "Integrated B cell-, Toll-like- and BAFF-receptor signals promote autoantibody production by transitional B cells." Journal of Immunology. 201(11): 3258-3268. 1 Dec 2018.

Raso, F., Sagadiev, S., Du, S.W., et al. “αv Integrins regulate germinal center B cell responses through noncanonical autophagy.” Journal of Clinical Investigation 128 (9): 4163-4178. 31 Aug 2018.

Arkatkar, T., Jacobs, H.M., Du, S.W., et al. “TACI deletion protects against progressive murine lupus nephritis induced by BAFF overexpression.” Kidney International 94 (4): 687.12 June 2018.

Arkatkar, T.*, Du, S.W.*, et al. “B cell-derived IL-6 initiates spontaneous germinal center formation during systemic autoimmunity.” Journal of Experimental Medicine 214 (11): 3207. 12 Sept 2017.

(*these authors contributed equally; ^corresponding author)

PRESENTATIONS

Du, S. et al. “Integration of BCR, TLR, BAFF receptor, and TACI signals promotes autoantibody production by transitional B cells in BAFF transgenic mice.” FOCIS 2018, San Francisco, CA, June 2018.

Du, S. et al. “Integration of BCR, TLR, BAFF receptor, and TACI signals promotes autoantibody production by transitional B cells in BAFF transgenic mice.” Keystone Symposium: B cells and T follicular helper cells, Whistler, BC, April 2017.

Du, S., et al. “CD8+ T-Cell Responses in Metastatic Melanoma Patients Receiving an Adenovirally Antigen Engineered Dendritic Cell Vaccine +/- IFN-α”, Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer, National Harbor, MD, November 2015.

Arcinega, M., Barlow, G., Du, S., et al. “Transcription Initiation Factor II H (TFIIH) and its Effects on the Recruitment of Rad50 to Double Strand Breaks in Yeast.” West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference, San Diego, California, March 2015.

NIH NEI F30 Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award F30EY033642 - "microRNA-204 and microRNA-211 regulation of RPE phagocytosis"
UCISOM 2021 Outstanding Graduate Student Research Award (Clinical/Translational) - Finalist
Knights Templar Eye Foundation ARVO 2022 Travel Award
ARVO 2022 Genetics Section Poster Award
UCI 2023 Public Impact Distinguished Fellow