Elucidating the molecular mechanisms of T cell-mediated hypersensitivity towards Beta-lactam antibiotics

Penicillin is a class of beta-lactam antibiotics that play an important role in combatting bacterial infections. Unfortunately, T cell mediated hypersensitivities towards penicillin is not well understood and patients with such allergies prevent clinicians from administrating this essential drug. My thesis describes a novel target of penicillin that plays a role in penicillin-induced T cell mediated allergies. This discovery will aid in understanding how T cells interact with penicillin to cause allergic reactions, and can be formulated into tools for screening protocols to prevent penicillin-induced hypersensitivities.