Oct 5
Biology Seminar: Rebecca Clements, Assistant Professor of Biology, Kenyon College, "Neonatal red blood cells and their unexpected role in antiviral immunity"
Mon, October 5, 2026
• 3:30pm
- 4:30pm (1h) • Olin 141
Red blood cells are typically thought of as highly specialized cells whose primary role is to transport oxygen throughout the body. Their lack of a nucleus and other organelles limits their capacity for many of the functions performed by other cells. However, nucleated red blood cell precursors circulate in human newborns and retain a remarkable range of cellular functions. Our research has shown that, in addition to their canonical role in oxygen transport, these cells express pattern recognition receptors that sense viral RNA and DNA and initiate antiviral immune responses. Research in the Clements Lab explores how neonatal red blood cells detect and respond to viral infection and the consequences of these responses, revealing an unexpected connection between red blood cells and innate immunity.
Event Contact: Peter Stone