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Ruth R Montgomery, PhD

Professor of Medicine and Professor of Epidemiology (Microbial Diseases); Director, Yale CyTOF Facility; Associate Dean for Scientific Affairs

Contact Information

Ruth R Montgomery, PhD

Mailing Address

  • Rheumatology

    PO Box 208056, 333 Cedar Street

    New Haven, CT 06520-8056

    United States

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Research Summary

My research focuses on translational studies of primary human cells in disease susceptibility and divergent clinical outcomes. The focus of our lab’s research is on innate immunity, specifically the interaction of macrophages, neutrophils, and dendritic cells with pathogens. We study the effect of aging on immune responses in large cohort study of human subjects, and show dysregulation of antiviral immunity in aging. We have published several methods using novel emerging technology to advance translational studies. In collaborative studies, we evaluate immune responses broadly in asthma, dengue virus, hepatitis C virus, humanized mice, leptospirosis, and Zika virus infections.

Our recent work employs CyTOF, a mass-spec based cell analyzer which provides multi-dimensional single cell data in suspension or in tissue sections. CyTOF improves on fluorescent flow cytometry by allowing detection of a greater number of markers per sample (~50) essentially without background signals or overlap between signals. I direct Yale's CyTOF Facility which houses two Helios instruments, one for cells in suspension and one dedicated to the Imaging Mass Cytometer (IMC) and I work with investigators to facilitate use of this novel platform.

Specialized Terms: Innate Immunity; Macrophage; Neutrophil; Aging; West Nile Virus

Extensive Research Description

Immune profiling; Single cell mass cytometry

Coauthors

Research Interests

Aging; Immune System; Immunity, Innate; Immune System Diseases; Macrophages; Neutrophils; Pathology; Public Health; Rheumatology; Virus Diseases; West Nile virus

Public Health Interests

Immunology

Research Images

Differentiated NK repertoires are skewed toward cytokine production in response to virus-infected cells.
Increase in diversity of NK cell receptors following infection with virus. Sci Trans Med 7:297ra115. PMCID:PMC4547537

Selected Publications

  • Profiling cellular heterogeneity in asthma with single cell multiparameter CyTOF.Stewart E, Wang X, Chupp GL, Montgomery RR. Profiling cellular heterogeneity in asthma with single cell multiparameter CyTOF. Journal Of Leukocyte Biology 2020, 108: 1555-1564. PMID: 32911570, PMCID: PMC8087109, DOI: 10.1002/JLB.5MA0720-770RR.
  • Single cell immune profiling of dengue virus patients reveals intact immune responses to Zika virus with enrichment of innate immune signatures.Zhao Y, Amodio M, Vander Wyk B, Gerritsen B, Kumar MM, van Dijk D, Moon K, Wang X, Malawista A, Richards MM, Cahill ME, Desai A, Sivadasan J, Venkataswamy MM, Ravi V, Fikrig E, Kumar P, Kleinstein SH, Krishnaswamy S, Montgomery RR. Single cell immune profiling of dengue virus patients reveals intact immune responses to Zika virus with enrichment of innate immune signatures. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases 2020, 14: e0008112. PMID: 32150565, PMCID: PMC7082063, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008112.
  • Age-related changes in expression and signaling of TAM receptor inflammatory regulators in monocytes.Wang X, Malawista A, Qian F, Ramsey C, Allore HG, Montgomery RR. Age-related changes in expression and signaling of TAM receptor inflammatory regulators in monocytes. Oncotarget 2018, 9: 9572-9580. PMID: 29515754, PMCID: PMC5839385, DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.23851.
  • West Nile Virus Seroprevalence, Connecticut, USA, 2000-2014.Cahill ME, Yao Y, Nock D, Armstrong PM, Andreadis TG, Diuk-Wasser MA, Montgomery RR. West Nile Virus Seroprevalence, Connecticut, USA, 2000-2014. Emerging Infectious Diseases 2017, 23: 708-710. PMID: 28322715, PMCID: PMC5367428, DOI: 10.3201/eid2304.161669.
  • High standards for high dimensional investigations.Montgomery RR. High standards for high dimensional investigations. Cytometry. Part A : The Journal Of The International Society For Analytical Cytology 2016, 89: 886-888. PMID: 27662608, PMCID: PMC5123846, DOI: 10.1002/cyto.a.22992.
  • Systems immunology reveals markers of susceptibility to West Nile virus infection.Qian F, Goel G, Meng H, Wang X, You F, Devine L, Raddassi K, Garcia MN, Murray KO, Bolen CR, Gaujoux R, Shen-Orr SS, Hafler D, Fikrig E, Xavier R, Kleinstein SH, Montgomery RR. Systems immunology reveals markers of susceptibility to West Nile virus infection. Clinical And Vaccine Immunology : CVI 2015, 22: 6-16. PMID: 25355795, PMCID: PMC4278927, DOI: 10.1128/CVI.00508-14.
  • Human NK cell repertoire diversity reflects immune experience and correlates with viral susceptibility.Strauss-Albee DM, Fukuyama J, Liang EC, Yao Y, Jarrell JA, Drake AL, Kinuthia J, Montgomery RR, John-Stewart G, Holmes S, Blish CA. Human NK cell repertoire diversity reflects immune experience and correlates with viral susceptibility. Science Translational Medicine 2015, 7: 297ra115. PMID: 26203083, PMCID: PMC4547537, DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aac5722.
  • Reduced bioenergetics and toll-like receptor 1 function in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes in aging.Qian F, Guo X, Wang X, Yuan X, Chen S, Malawista SE, Bockenstedt LK, Allore HG, Montgomery RR. Reduced bioenergetics and toll-like receptor 1 function in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes in aging. Aging 2014, 6: 131-9. PMID: 24595889, PMCID: PMC3969281, DOI: 10.18632/aging.100642.

Clinical Trials

ConditionsStudy Title
Immune System; Men's Health; Women's HealthEffects of circadian regulation and sleep on immune responses
Diseases of the Respiratory Systems; COVID-19 Inpatient; COVID-19 OutpatientA Study Tracking Health Care Workers Exposed to COVID-19
Addictive Behaviors; HIV/AIDS; Infectious DiseasesImpact of HIV Infection on Immunologic, Transcriptomic, and Metabolomic Signatures
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