Katherine L. Knight

Katherine L. Knight is a Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Loyola University Chicago's School of Medicine. She leads a research laboratory focused on understanding how host-microbe interactions shape immune responses, particularly in the context of B cell biology and inflammatory diseases.

• Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Loyola University Chicago
• Ph.D., Indiana University

Her research centers on the interplay between commensal microbes and the immune system, with a special focus on host-microbe interactions, trained immunity, and B cell development. The Knight Lab discovered that Bacillus subtilis, a harmless gut bacterium, is essential for B cell development and antibody diversity in rabbits. This bacterium, through its exopolysaccharide (EPS), induces anti-inflammatory macrophages and tolerogenic dendritic cells, thereby protecting against allergic asthma, graft-versus-host disease, autoimmunity, and Clostridium difficile infection. Her work on trained immunity explores how innate immune cells develop memory-like responses to microbial stimuli, offering novel avenues for therapeutic intervention.

Her recent publications reveal a consistent focus on microbial immunomodulation, mucosal immunity, and the molecular mechanisms underlying inflammation and immune tolerance. Themes across her work include the role of the microbiome in immune education, the development of probiotic-based therapies, and the use of animal models—particularly rabbits—for studying human immune diseases.

• Discovery of Bacillus subtilis in B cell development
• Identification of exopolysaccharide (EPS) as an immunomodulatory molecule
• Development of mucosal vaccines against C. difficile using virus-like particles
• Elucidation of mechanisms in trained immunity

Dr. Knight has mentored numerous researchers and maintains active collaborations, including with Dr. Qiao in her department on vaccine development. Her lab employs a range of techniques including gene knockout models, CRISPR, flow cytometry, and molecular biology to investigate immune pathways. She has not received any explicitly mentioned scientific awards in the provided text, but her sustained research output and leadership indicate significant recognition in the field.

The Knight Lab continues to investigate the therapeutic potential of microbial molecules in preventing and treating inflammatory and autoimmune conditions, positioning her at the forefront of translational immunology.