RESEARCH INTERESTS

My research is generally focused on the field of adaptive immunology; specifically, I am interested in the regulation of lymphocyte effector functions during infection and by exposure to intoxicants and chemicals. A major emphasis of my research has been to identify human B cell subsets which exhibit selective sensitivity to Aryl hydrocarbon (AHR)-mediated immunotoxicity elicited by the xenobiotic, 2,3,7,8 tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), a potent ligand of AHR, and other dioxin-like compounds. This research has identified human CD5-positive innate-like B cells (ILB) as being preferentially sensitive to AHR activation as evidenced by robust reductions in the ability to secrete immunoglobulin M (IgM) following exposure to TCDD, which is due in part to higher expression of AHR in CD5⁺ B cells compared to CD5^- B cells. As there is a dearth of studies focused on human CD5⁺ ILB and the role of AHR, we are currently focused on further characterization of this understudied immune cell population, while elucidating the molecular mechanism of TCDD-mediated immunotoxicity in CD5⁺ ILB. 

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EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, B.A., 2007, Biology
Wake Forest University, Ph.D., 2016, Molecular and Cellular Biosciences (Immunology)

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PUBLICATIONS

Dr. Blevins at PubMed

Dr. Blevins at MSU Scholars

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