Kelly Shepardson

Kelly Shepardson is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Molecular Cell Biology within the School of Natural Sciences at the University of California, Merced. Her laboratory is located in BSP 462, with her office in BSP 463. She can be contacted at kshepardson2@ucmerced.edu.

Her research focuses on immunology and infectious diseases, particularly host-pathogen interactions involving viral, bacterial, and fungal pathogens. Key areas include:

• Immune mechanisms in pulmonary infections
• Viral-bacterial-fungal coinfections
• Macrophage biology and innate immune signaling
• Pathogen recognition receptors (TLRs, NLRs)
• Cytokine regulation in infection outcomes

Her publication record (2015-2025) demonstrates consistent focus on:

• Influenza pathogenesis and superinfections
• Aspergillus and other fungal infections
• SARS-CoV-2 coinfection models
• Mouse models of respiratory infections
• Molecular mechanisms of immune regulation