Effects of exogenous and endogenous sex steroids on epithelial barrier function and other mechanisms of anti-pathogen immunity.

Development of vaccination platforms to boost anti-pathogen and anti-tumor immunity.

Title: Estrogen Reverses Progestin-Mediated Loss of Genital Mucosal Barrier Function
Dates: 09/01/2018 – 05/31/2023
Name of agency: NICHD
Role: PI
Award number: R01 HD094634

1. Vicetti Miguel RD, Quispe Calla NE, Pavelko SD, Cherpes TL. Intravaginal Chlamydia trachomatis challenge infection elicits TH1 and TH17 immune responses in mice that promote pathogen clearance and genital tract damage. PLoS One. 2016.
2. Quispe Calla NE, Vicetti Miguel RD, Prosper N Boyaka, Luanne Hall-Stoodley, Balveen Kaur, Wayne Trout, Pavelko SD, Cherpes TL. Medroxyprogesterone acetate and levonorgestrel increase genital mucosal permeability and enhance susceptibility to genital herpes simplex virus type 2 infection. Mucosal Immunol 2016.
3. Quispe Calla NE, Vicetti Miguel RD, Mei A, Fan S, Cherpes TL. Dendritic cell function and pathogen-specific T cell immunity are inhibited in mice administered levonorgestrel prior to intranasal Chlamydia trachomatis infection. Sci. Rep. 2016.
4. Quispe Calla NE, Vicetti Miguel RD, Trout W, Cherpes TL. HIV and hormonal contraception: bench and bedside. J. Acquir. Immune Defic. Syndr. 2017.
5. Vicetti Miguel RD, Quispe Calla NE, Dixon D, Foster RA, Pavelko SD, Cherpes TL. Interleukin-4-secreting eosinophils promote endometrial stromal cell proliferation and prevent Chlamydia-induced upper genital tract damage. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2017.
6. Quispe Calla NE, Vicetti Miguel RD, Glick ME, Kwiek JJ, Gabriel JM, Cherpes TL. Exogenous oestrogen inhibits genital transmission of cell-associated HIV-1 in DMPA-treated humanized mice. J Int AIDS Soc. 2018; 21. 
7. Vicetti Miguel RD, Quispe Calla NE, Cherpes TL. Levonorgestrel and female genital tract immunity: time for a closer look. J Infect Dis. 2018. 
8. Quispe Calla NE, Vicetti Miguel RD, Aceves KM, Torres AR. Cherpes TL. Depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate reduces genital cell-cell adhesion molecule expression and increases genital herpes simplex virus type 2 infection susceptibility in a dose-dependent fashion. Contraception. 2019; 100:397-401.
9. Quispe Calla NE, Vicetti Miguel RD, Torres AR, Aceves KM, Trout W, Gabriel JM, Aceves KM, Kwiek JJ, Kaur B, Cherpes TL. Norethisterone enanthate increases mouse susceptibility to genital infection with herpes simplex virus type 2 and human immunodeficiency virus type 1. ImmunoHorizons. 2020; 4:72-81.  
10. Vicetti Miguel RD, Quispe Calla, Aceves KM, Cherpes TL. ECHO: Context and limitations. Lancet. 2020; 395: e21.
11. Quispe Calla NE, Vicetti Miguel RD, Aceves KM, Cherpes TL. Exogenous sex steroids regulate function of the genital mucosal barrier in rhesus macaques. Bio Repro. 2020; 103:310-317.
12. Quispe Calla NE, Vicetti Miguel RD, Aceves KM, Howitt B, Cherpes TL. Ovariectomized mice and postmenopausal women exhibit analogous loss of genital epithelial integrity. Tissue Barriers. 2021. 

Associate Professor, 2021 – Current
Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

1. American Board of Internal Medicine Research Pathway
2. American Society of Microbiology Infectious Disease Fellow Travel Grants 
3. National Institutes of Health Loan Repayment Program awardee    
4. Federation of Clinical Immunology Societies Advanced Immunology Course Travel Grant
5. American Society for Reproductive Immunology Travel Award
6. National Institutes of Health Loan Repayment Program ambassador   
7. Lead guest editor, special PID issue in Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics and Gynecology 
8. Review Editor, Microbes and Innate Immunity Editorial Board            
9. American Academy of Veterinary medical Colleges Leadership Course participant
10. NIAID Microbiology & Infectious Diseases Research Committee member (2020-2025)