Immune Modulation

Principal Investigator: Dr. Bilgi GÜNGÖR

At the BG Immune Modulation Laboratory, we aim to better understand how immune responses are regulated both locally and systemically, with the ultimate goal of developing novel therapeutic strategies through targeted immune modulation. By dissecting the mechanisms that govern immune memory formation and function, we strive to inform the design of more effective interventions against cancer and infectious diseases.A central focus of our work is on CD8⁺ tissue-resident memory T cells (TRMs), particularly those located in barrier tissues such as the skin, lungs, and mucosal surfaces. We investigate the factors that control their differentiation, tissue retention, longevity, and protective capacity, as these cells are crucial for frontline defense and durable immunity.To translate these insights into clinical applications, we are actively developing in vitro platforms to generate TRM-like cells, aiming to adapt these systems for T cell-based immunotherapies. Our goal is to recreate key signals from the tissue microenvironment in controlled conditions to instruct long-lasting, functionally competent TRM-like phenotypes that could be used in adoptive cell therapy. In parallel, we utilize in vivo models to explore how mucosal niches shape immune memory and to test innovative vaccination strategies, that can effectively establish tissue-resident memory populations for long-term protection against both tumors and pathogens.

Publications

Kalyoncu S., Sayili D., Kuyucu A.Z., Soyturk H., Gullu S., Ersayan B., Tarman I.O., Avci M.E., Mert O., Akinturk H., Orkut R., Demirtas A., Tilmensagir I., Ulker C., Gungor B., Inan M. “Development of a Recombinant Omicron BA.1 Subunit Vaccine Candidate in Pichia Pastoris” Microbial Biotechnology. 2025 January; 18 (1): e70077. doi:10.1111/1751-7915.70077. 

Von Werdt D*., Gungor B*., Albuquerque J.B, Gruber T., Zysset D., Kwong Chung C., Corrêa-Ferreira A., Berchtold R., Page N., Schenk M., Kehrl J.H., Merkler D., Imhof B.A., Stein J.V., Abe J., Turchinovich G., Finke D., Hayday H., Corazza N., Mueller C. (2023). “Regulator of G-Protein Signaling 1 critically supports CD8+ TRM cell-mediated intestinal immunity”. Frontiers Immunol. 2023, 14, 1085895, doi:10.3389/fimmu.2023.1085895.

Yilmaz I.C., Ipekoglu M, Bulbul A., Turay N., Yildirim M., Evcili I., Yilmaz N., Aydin Y., Guvencli N., Gungor B., Saraydar B., Bartan A.G., Ibibik B., Bildik T., Baydemir I., Sanli H.A., Kayaoglu B., Ceylan Y., Yildirim T., Abras I., Ayanoglu I.C., Cam S.B, Dede E.C., Gizer M., Erganis O., Sarac F., Uzar S., Enul H., Adiay C., Aykut G., Polat H., Yildirim I.S., Tekin S., Zeytin H.E., Korkusuz P., Gursel I., Gursel M. (2022). “Development and Preclinical Evaluation of Virus Like Particle Vaccine Against COVID-19 Infection”. Allergy. 77,258-270.

Albuquerque J.B.*, Mueller C., Gungor B*. (2021). “Tissue resident T cells in Chronic Relapsing-Remitting Intestinal Disorders”. Cells. 10, no. 8: 1882. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells10081882.

Projects

TÜBİTAK 1001 - Induction of tissue-resident memory T cells and mucosal protection against viral infections via intranasal vaccination with CpG/Tat nano-ring adjuvant

NanoBio4can - CpG-Tat nanoparticle-based mucosal treatment strategies in in vivo lung carcinoma model.

Team

Buse Duru Aras (Master’s Student)

Dicle Çalışkan (Master’s Student)

Müge Özkan (Researcher, NanoBio4can)