About

Deborah J. Fowell, DPhil, is Professor and Chair of the Department of Microbiology & Immunology at Cornell University. She also serves as the Director of the Cornell Center for Immunology and Co-Director of The Friedman Center for Nutrition & Inflammation. The Fowell Lab, under her leadership, welcomes a diverse group of students, postdoctoral associates, visiting scholars, and staff, emphasizing inclusivity regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender identification, sexual orientation, age, disability status, or socioeconomic background. The lab focuses on immunology research, contributing to the academic and scientific community at Cornell University.

Research topics

• Immunology
• Biology
• Computer Science
• Medicine
• Chemistry
• Artificial Intelligence
• Cell biology
• Virology
• Pathology
• Biochemistry
• Neuroscience
• Microbiology

Selected publications

• A temporal and spatial atlas of adaptive immune responses in the lymph node following viral infection

  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · 2026-01-26 · 4 citations

  articleOpen access

  The spatial organization of adaptive immune cells within lymph nodes is critical for understanding immune responses during infection and disease. Here, we introduce AIR-SPACE, an integrative approach that combines high-resolution spatial transcriptomics with paired, high-fidelity long-read sequencing of T and B cell receptors. This method enables the simultaneous analysis of cellular transcriptomes and adaptive immune receptor (AIR) repertoires within their native spatial context. We applied AIR-SPACE to mouse popliteal lymph nodes at five distinct time points after Vaccinia virus footpad infection and constructed a comprehensive map of the developing adaptive immune response. Our analysis revealed heterogeneous activation niches, characterized by Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) production, during the early stages of infection. At later stages, we delineated subanatomical structures within the germinal center (GC) and observed evidence that antibody-producing plasma cells differentiate and exit the GC through the dark zone. Furthermore, by combining clonotype data with spatial lineage tracing, we demonstrate that B cell clones are shared among multiple GCs within the same lymph node, reinforcing the concept of a dynamic, interconnected network of GCs. Overall, our study demonstrates how AIR-SPACE can be used to gain insight into the spatial dynamics of infection responses within lymphoid organs.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Controlled delivery of IL-10 and retinoic acid for the treatment of psoriasis using a multilayered microneedle

  RSC Pharmaceutics · 2026-01-01

  articleOpen access

  Here we report a novel immunotherapeutic system capable of localized targeting with time dependent release of small and biological molecules. This is the first coacervate microneedle combination product.

  PublisherDOI

• Author response for "Controlled Delivery of IL-10 and Retinoic Acid for the Treatment of Psoriasis using a Multilayered Microneedle"

  2026-03-24

  peer-review
  PublisherDOI

• Table S1 from Ccr2<sup>+</sup> Monocyte-Derived Macrophages Influence Trajectories of Acquired Therapy Resistance in <i>Braf</i>-Mutant Melanoma

  2025-11-24

  articleOpen access

  <p>Antibodies used for immunostaining and flow cytometry</p>

  PublisherDOI

• Immune modulation by glycosylated outer membrane vesicle (glycOMV) vaccines 3837

  The Journal of Immunology · 2025-11-01

  articleOpen access

  Abstract Description Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) from Gram-negative bacteria are a powerful platform for vaccine development, addressing infectious disease and cancer immunotherapy. These non-replicating vesicles naturally contain pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) that activate innate and adaptive immunity, giving OMVs intrinsic adjuvant properties. Their size allows direct lymph node drainage, enabling efficient uptake by antigen-presenting cells and cross-presentation to T cells. Our lab has engineered OMVs using synthetic biology and recombinant DNA techniques, producing non-pathogenic E. coli K12 OMVs with targeted antigens. These OMVs elicit strong antigen-specific humoral and T-cell-mediated immune responses in mouse models, including B-cell activation and dendritic cell-mediated T-cell responses. OMV-based vaccines have shown efficacy against several pathogens and tumors, highlighting their potential for diverse applications. We recently developed glycosylated OMVs (glycOMVs) decorated with pathogen-specific polysaccharides. These glycOMVs present a method of displaying high-density glycan epitopes to the immune system, which leads to clustering B cell receptors and improving immune responses to weak antigens like glycans and small peptides. However, the specific mechanisms behind glycOMV-induced immunity remain unclear. Our research focuses on characterizing these pathways in vitro and in vivo, advancing OMV-based vaccine design to combat infectious diseases and cancer. Funding Sources This work was supported by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation grant OPP1217652 Topic Categories Vaccines and Immunotherapy (VAC)

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Figure S4 from Ccr2<sup>+</sup> Monocyte-Derived Macrophages Influence Trajectories of Acquired Therapy Resistance in <i>Braf</i>-Mutant Melanoma

  2025-11-24

  articleOpen access

  <p>Different resistance phenotypes observed with and without Ccr2+ macrophages.</p>

  PublisherDOI

• Figure S1 from Ccr2<sup>+</sup> Monocyte-Derived Macrophages Influence Trajectories of Acquired Therapy Resistance in <i>Braf</i>-Mutant Melanoma

  2025-11-24

  articleOpen access

  <p>Tyr-CreER, LSL-BrafV600E, Ptenflox/flox genetically engineered mouse model (TBP GEMM).</p>

  PublisherDOI

• Figure S5 from Ccr2<sup>+</sup> Monocyte-Derived Macrophages Influence Trajectories of Acquired Therapy Resistance in <i>Braf</i>-Mutant Melanoma

  2025-11-24

  articleOpen access

  <p>Lymphocyte and myeloid population profiles from resistant control and Ccr2RFP/RFP tumors.</p>

  PublisherDOI

• Spatial Mapping of the Adaptive Immune Receptor Repertoire in Lymph Nodes During Viral Infection 2278

  The Journal of Immunology · 2025-11-01

  articleOpen access

  Abstract Description The spatial organization of adaptive immune cells within lymph nodes is essential for understanding immune responses during infection and disease. Here, we sought to investigate the spatial and temporal changes to the adaptive immune receptor repertoire (AIRR) in the draining lymph node after footpad infection with Vaccinia virus in mice. We developed a novel method that combines high-resolution spatial transcriptomics (Slide-seq) with high-fidelity long-read adaptive immune receptor sequencing from tissue sections. This integration enables simultaneous analysis of whole transcriptomes and the AIRR in their spatial context. Applying our method to the model, we demonstrated its capability to map the spatial distribution and capture temporal dynamics of the AIRR at 3, 7, 10, 14, and 21 days post-infection. Our approach revealed heterogenous niches of activation from Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) during early stages of infection. We also observed sub-anatomical structures within the germinal center (GC), providing evidence that antibody-producing plasma cells differentiate and exit the GC from the dark zone. Additionally, we traced the spatial lineage trajectory of B cell clones and found evidence to suggest that their maturation occurs across multiple GCs. Thus, our methodology offers valuable insights into the spatial dynamics of immune responses, presenting a powerful tool for studying the immune system and disease pathogenesis. Topic Categories Technological Innovations in Immunology (TECH)

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• In the nick of time: TFH cells as architects of durable immunity 2626

  The Journal of Immunology · 2025-11-01

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Abstract Description T follicular helper (TFH) cells are essential in adaptive immunity, guiding germinal center B (GC B) cells to generate high-affinity, long-lasting antibodies. Through direct cell interactions (e.g., CD40) and cytokine release, TFH cells signals are delivered to GC B cells, supporting their survival and differentiation into memory B cells (Bmem) and long-lived plasma cells (LLPCs). We examined the critical timing of TFH help by temporal disruption of GC interactions through acute anti-CD40L treatment and an inducible TFH knockout model, using CD4Cre-ERT2BCL6fl/fl. Our results show that prolonged TFH -GC B cell interactions are vital for the generate LLPCs. Tfh disruption 3 weeks into the GC reaction, when Tfh numbers are declining, impairs subsequent LLPC numbers in the bone marrow. In contrast, only depletion of Tfh during the early GC response, but not at later stages, disrupted the generation of Bmem. Use of inducible S1PR2-TdT has enabled GC-derived Tfh tracking, to identify specific TFH signals that could help guide GC B cells toward LLPCs at these later stages. A better understanding of the temporal changes in TFH biology is required to assure optimal vaccine efficacy, and here we show by two different approaches that durable TFH responses are critical for establishing a robust, long-lasting LLPC response. Understanding these signals holds significant potential for the design of new vaccines that deliver enduring protection. Funding Sources NIH Research Project Grant Program (R01): AI136536 Topic Categories Vaccines and Immunotherapy (VAC)

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Recent grants

• DCM/Integrin TFH Positioning Cues for Support of the Germinal Center Response

  NIH · $2.4M · 2018–2024

• The T32 Predoctoral Training Program in Immunology (PTPI)

  NIH · $10.5M · 1986–2028

• Remodeling of Lymph Node-Derived Cytokine Responses at the Infected Tissue Site

  NIH · $3.6M · 2008–2023

• NIH Grant R21AI053746

  NIH · $315k · 2005

• NIH Grant R01AI050201

  NIH · $1.6M · 2006

Frequent coauthors

• Richard M. Locksley

  University of California, San Francisco

  61 shared

• Alexander I. McGurk

  47 shared

• Luye An

  36 shared

• Andrew C. White

  36 shared

• Jiwon Moon

  36 shared

• Brian D. Rudd

  36 shared

• Viviana I. Maymí

  Cornell University

  36 shared

• Dahihm Kim

  36 shared

Labs

• Fowell LabPI