Artis Lab | Weill Cornell Medicine

Artis Lab

Parasite infection of the mouse small intestine

A stained histological cross-section of the mouse duodenum on day seven following infection with the intestinal parasite Nippostrongylus brasiliensis. Protective immune responses stimulate mucus production by goblet cells to expel the parasite. Image courtesy of Drs. David Artis and Tanel Mahlekõiv.

A Postdoctoral Scientist at the laboratory bench.

The epithelial barrier of the nasal cavity

Nasal epithelial cells (red) are the first line of the mucosal barrier to recognize pathogens and allergens. These cells express IL-33 (green), a cytokine (small protein that is important in cell signaling), inducing airway inflammation. Image courtesy of Drs. David Artis and Hiroki Kabata.

Interleukin-33 expressing mesothelial cells in adipose tissue

Expression of the protein interleukin-33 within the nucleus of the mesothelial cell layer that line peritoneal body cavity and organs. Interleukin-33 is a danger signal within the body, released upon cell damage or during infection and initiates a protective immune response. Image courtesy of Drs. David Artis and Tanel Mahlekõiv

Color-enhanced histologic image showing intestinal tissue damage in a murine model of intestinal inflammation.
Image credit: Drs. Laurel Monticelli and David Artis

Histologic images above and below showing characteristic murine beige fat cells that are implicated in increasing caloric expenditure and limiting weight gain.
Image credit: Dr. David Artis and Jonathan R. Brestoff

A Postdoctoral Scientist using the Fortessa cytometer to measure experiment samples.

A group of Postdoctoral Scientists brainstorming and starting to outline an experiment.

Visualizing the gut. A color-enhanced image of a mouse colon showing the muscular, sub-mucosa, mucosa and epithelial barrier. Image credit: Drs. Laurel Monticelli and David Artis, Weill Cornell Medicine.

A lab manager removing samples from a liquid nitrogen freezer tank.

A Postdoctoral Scientist studying inflammation with the fluorescent microscope.

The goals of the Artis lab are to understand the regulatory mechanisms that control immune cell homeostasis at the body’s barrier surfaces. Employing diverse models of microbial colonization, pathogen infection and chronic inflammation, research in the Artis lab is examining how mammalian host genetics and signals derived from commensal microbial communities influence innate and adaptive immune responses in the skin, lung and intestine.

The Lab Team

The Artis lab welcomes a diverse set of talents and fosters an interdisciplinary approach in its attempts to translate fundamental scientific discoveries into clinical innovations.

Our Research

Ongoing studies are examining the influence of host genetic- and environmental-derived signals on the development and functions of innate and adaptive immune cells in the context of health and disease. The findings of these studies offer the potential to identify new therapeutic targets to limit infection, chronic inflammation and autoimmune diseases.