Teresa Fernandes-Alnemri

Teresa Fernandes-Alnemri serves as a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology within the College of Life Sciences at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia.

Her research focuses on inflammasome activation mechanisms involving NLR family proteins (NLRP1, NLRP3, NLRC4, NOD1, NOD2) and AIM2, which detect microbial and damage signals to trigger caspase-1-mediated pro-inflammatory cytokine production. This work directly links to pathological conditions including Crohn's disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, lupus nephritis, and anemia of inflammation. Current investigations examine AIM2's role in cytosolic dsDNA sensing during infections with Francisella and Vaccinia virus, using genetically engineered mouse models to explore therapeutic targets for autoimmune renal disease.

She directs a laboratory employing molecular and cellular techniques to dissect inflammasome signaling cascades, with recent breakthroughs demonstrating AIM2's critical function in DNA-driven inflammatory responses relevant to lupus pathogenesis.