Cathryn R. Nagler, PhD

The Nagler Lab studies the mechanisms governing tolerance to dietary antigens. They were one of the first to identify a link between resident intestinal bacteria and the regulation of mucosal immunity. During the last fifteen years, their work has focused on examining how commensal bacteria regulate susceptibility to allergic responses to food. They have proposed that the striking generational increase in food allergies can be explained, in part, by alterations in the composition and function of the commensal microbiome.



In support of this hypothesis, Nagler Lab described a role for a particular population of mucosa-associated commensal bacteria in protection from allergic sensitization in mice. Initial translational studies showed that the composition of the fecal microbiota is altered in infants with cow’s milk allergy. To understand how the microbiota regulates allergic disease in humans they have colonized germ free mice with human bacteria from the feces of healthy or cow’s milk allergic (CMA) infants.



The group discovered that mice colonized with CMA infants’ microbiota exhibited an anaphylactic response to the cow’s milk allergen b-lactoglobulin, while mice colonized with healthy infants’ microbiota were protected against an allergic response. They defined a microbiota signature that distinguishes the CMA and healthy populations in both the human donors and the colonized mice. Analysis of gene expression in ileal intestinal epithelial cells of colonized mice identified a significant correlation between the genes associated with allergy protection and taxa from the Lachnospiraceae family, supporting a causal role for specific bacterial species in protection against food allergy.



These robust, pre-clinical, gnotobiotic models are an ideal system to identify key host-microbial interactions that contribute to allergic sensitization to food. With support from the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Nagler Lab has created a start-up company, ClostraBio, to develop novel microbiome-modulating therapeutics to prevent or treat food allergy.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA
Postdoctoral Fellowship - Immunology
1990

NYU Grossman School of Medicine
New York, NY
Ph.D. - Immunology
1986

Barnard College (Columbia University)
New York, NY
BA - Biology
1979

A Lipopolysaccharide-Enriched Cow's Milk Allergy Microbiome Promotes a TLR4-Dependent Proinflammatory Intestinal Immune Response.
A Lipopolysaccharide-Enriched Cow's Milk Allergy Microbiome Promotes a TLR4-Dependent Proinflammatory Intestinal Immune Response. J Immunol. 2024 Feb 15; 212(4):702-714.
PMID: 38169331

Inhibition of Immunological Suppression.
Inhibition of Immunological Suppression. J Immunol. 2023 11 01; 211(9):1255-1256.
PMID: 37987807

Commensal bacteria signal through TLR5 and AhR to improve barrier integrity and prevent allergic responses to food.
Commensal bacteria signal through TLR5 and AhR to improve barrier integrity and prevent allergic responses to food. Cell Rep. 2023 10 31; 42(10):113153.
PMID: 37742185

Intestinal Helminth Infection Impairs Oral and Parenteral Vaccine Efficacy.
Intestinal Helminth Infection Impairs Oral and Parenteral Vaccine Efficacy. J Immunol. 2023 08 01; 211(3):389-402.
PMID: 37272847

Treatment of peanut allergy and colitis in mice via the intestinal release of butyrate from polymeric micelles.
Treatment of peanut allergy and colitis in mice via the intestinal release of butyrate from polymeric micelles. Nat Biomed Eng. 2023 Jan; 7(1):38-55.
PMID: 36550307

New and emerging concepts and therapies for the treatment of food allergy.
New and emerging concepts and therapies for the treatment of food allergy. Immunother Adv. 2022; 2(1):ltac006.
PMID: 35434724

Interpreting success or failure of peanut oral immunotherapy.
Interpreting success or failure of peanut oral immunotherapy. J Clin Invest. 2022 01 18; 132(2).
PMID: 35040441

Host-Microbiota Interactions in the Esophagus During Homeostasis and Allergic Inflammation.
Host-Microbiota Interactions in the Esophagus During Homeostasis and Allergic Inflammation. Gastroenterology. 2022 02; 162(2):521-534.e8.
PMID: 34627858

Modern World Influences on the Microbiome and Their Consequences for Immune-Mediated Disease.
Modern World Influences on the Microbiome and Their Consequences for Immune-Mediated Disease. J Immunol. 2021 10 01; 207(7):1695-1696.
PMID: 34544809

Early intervention and prevention of allergic diseases.
Early intervention and prevention of allergic diseases. Allergy. 2022 02; 77(2):416-441.
PMID: 34255344

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Distinguished Fellow
American Association of Immunologists
2020

Notable Women in Health Care
Crain's Chicago Business
2019

Louis M. Mendelson Award Lectureship
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
2019

Siegel Lectureship
UCLA
2019

Tech Top 50 Women
Crain's Chicago Business
2018

Distinguished Faculty Award for Leadership in Program Innovation
University of Chicago
2017