Julia Jellusova
Postdoctoral Fellow

jjellusova@sanfordburnham.org IKKalpha function in B cells

NFkappaB is a family of transcription factors that play a central role in the inducible expression of many genes involved in innate and adaptive immunity. The two dominant signaling pathways that can lead to activation of NFkappaB are termed the classical and alternative pathways. NIK mediated IKKalpha phosphorylation activates the alternative NFkappaB pathway, which is characterized by the cleavage of p100 and generation of the NFkappaB heterodimer p52/RelB. IKKalpha is not only a crucial part of the alternative NFkappaB pathway, but also displays NFkappaB independent functions. My work is focused on investigating the B cell intrinsic functions of IKKalpha in germinal center B cell differentiation, plasma cell formation and maintenance.

Education
2002-2007 M.S. (Biology), Department of Genetics, University of Erlangen, Germany
2007-2010 Department of Genetics, University of Erlangen, Germany
Ph.D awarded June 7, 2010 (Summa Cum Laude)
 

Publications

Sitte, S., Jellusova, J., Weisel, F., Gläsner, J., Pardi, R., and Gessner, A. (2012) JAB1 is essential for B cell development and germinal center formation and inversely regulates Fas Ligand and Bcl6 expression. J Immunol. 88(6):2677-86.

Jellusova J and Nitschke L (2011). Regulation of B cell functions by the sialic acid-binding receptors Siglec-G and CD22. Front. Immun. 2:96.
 
R.C. Rickert, J. Jellusova and A.V. Miletic. 2011. Signaling by the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily in B-cell biology and disease. Immunol. Rev. 244(1):115-33. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-065X.2011.01067.x.

Jellusova, J., Duber, S., Guckel, E., Binder, C.J., Weiss, S., Voll, R., and Nitschke, L. Siglec-G regulates B1 cell survival and selection.(2010) J Immunol 185, 3277-3284.

Jellusova, J., Wellmann, U., Amann, K., Winkler, T.H., and Nitschke, L. CD22 x Siglec-G double-deficient mice have massively increased B1 cell numbers and develop systemic autoimmunity.(2010) J Immunol 184, 3618-3627.

Hoffmann, A., Kerr, S., Jellusova, J., Zhang, J., Weisel, F., Wellmann, U., Winkler, T.H., Kneitz, B., Crocker, P.R., and Nitschke, L. (2007). Siglec-G is a B1 cell-inhibitory receptor that controls expansion and calcium signaling of the B1 cell population. Nat Immunol 8, 695-704.
 

Outside Interests
Painting, trying to learn Java, setting up campfires whenever and wherever possible.