Helen Goodridge, PhD

Research Scientist, Gastroenterology	Link to the research lab
Email: Helen.Goodridge@cshs.org Phone: (310) 423-7582 Fax: (310) 423-0224

Academic Appointments

Awards and Activities

Research Focus

Macrophages and dendritic cells (DC) are key players in innate immunity and inflammation. The lab is characterizing the responses of these cells to microbial components and other "danger signals", and defining the role of specific receptors expressed by these cells in antimicrobial immunity and inflammatory disease.

Research Contributions

Defined mechanisms underlying the activation of macrophages and DC following detection of bacteria, fungi and parasites by pattern recognition receptors (TLR2, TLR4 and Dectin-1).

Current investigations include:

Mechanisms of fungal detection by Dectin-1, and the role of Dectin-1 in immunity and inflammatory disease.
Macrophage development and function following microbial exposure.

Selected Publications

1. Shimada T, Park BG, Wolf AJ, Brikos C, Goodridge HS, Becker CA, Reyes CN, Miao EA, Aderem A, Götz F, Liu GY, Underhill DM: Staphylococcus aureus Evades Lysozyme-Based Peptidoglycan Digestion that Links Phagocytosis, Inflammasome Activation, and IL-1beta Secretion. Cell host & microbe, 7(1): 38-49, 2010
2. Goodridge HS, Wolf AJ, Underhill DM: Beta-glucan recognition by the innate immune system. Immunol. Rev., 230(1): 38-50, 2009
3. Goodridge HS, Shimada T, Wolf AJ, Hsu YM, Becker CA, Lin X, Underhill DM: Differential use of CARD9 by dectin-1 in macrophages and dendritic cells. J. Immunol., 182(2): 1146-54, 2009
4. Goodridge HS, Simmons RM, Underhill DM: Dectin-1 stimulation by Candida albicans yeast or zymosan triggers NFAT activation in macrophages and dendritic cells. J. Immunol., 178(5): 3107-15, 2007
5. Goodridge HS, Marshall FA, Else KJ, Houston KM, Egan C, Al-Riyami L, Liew FY, Harnett W, Harnett MM: Immunomodulation via novel use of TLR4 by the filarial nematode phosphorylcholine-containing secreted product, ES-62. J. Immunol., 174(1): 284-93, 2005
6. Goodridge HS, Wilson EH, Harnett W, Campbell CC, Harnett MM, Liew FY: Modulation of macrophage cytokine production by ES-62, a secreted product of the filarial nematode Acanthocheilonema viteae. J. Immunol., 167(2): 940-5, 2001