Shaodong Dai, PhD Ask a Question Refer Patient Shaodong Dai, PhD, is a researcher at National Jewish Health. Dr. Dai is in the Department of Immunology and Genomic Medicine. Associate Professor Department of Immunology and Genomic Medicine 5280 Top Doctors 2022 Previously a 5280 Top Doctor America’s Top Doctors 2015 — Castle Connolly, Medical, Ltd. Recognized in America’s Top Doctors — Castle Connolly, Inc. Best Doctors in America® 2019-2020 — Best Doctors, Inc. Recognized in Best Doctors in America® — Best Doctors, Inc. America’s Top Doctors 2020 — Castle Connolly Medical, Ltd. Email Profile Print Profile Overview Contact Info & Locations Programs & Services Department of Immunology and Genomic Medicine Research Areas Basic Immunology Immunobiology Oxidative Stress Allergy Special Interests Research Interests Metal ions are essential nutrients in all forms of life. Despite their important roles, metals can be toxic and elicit different kinds of immune responses, causing diseases. Chronic beryllium disease is a fibrotic lung disorder caused by beryllium exposure, while nickel ion is the dominant allergen for contact dermatitis. Our major goal is to understand the mechanisms of the metal containing ligands for alpha/beta TCRs from metal reactive human T cells. Using structural biology we will be able to discern the respective rule for metal binding and find potent compounds to inhibit metal binding, thus abrogating T cell responses. We are also interested in the molecular basis of metal induced autoimmunity. Recently we observed metal ions directly attenuate the binding affinity between TCR and pMHC interaction. Our goal is to understand how the metal ions attenuate the TCR/pMHC binding affinity and what effects they have on T cells activation. The results can help to elucidate the molecular basis for some autoimmunity caused by metals. We are interested in redox signaling in chloroplast and T Cells. We are studying a unique iron-sulfur enzyme, ferredoxin: thioredoxin reductase, containing both a catalytic [4Fe-4S] cluster and a redox active disulfide. The overall objective of this proposal is to decipher the mechanisms of reduction of disulfide catalyzed by iron sulfur cluster and thiol-disulfide exchange reactions in ferredoxin /thioredoxin system. Redox signaling in apoptosis involves the oxidation and reduction of cysteine residues in critical thiol proteins. Changes in the structure and activity of these proteins can initiate cell responses, or modify the response of cells to other signals. My proposed research focuses on the regulatory mechanisms of apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) mediated T cell apoptosis. ASK1 is a member of the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase (MAP3K) family, which activates both the SEK1-JNK and MKK3/6-p38 MAP signaling cascades and constitutes a pivotal signaling pathway in cytokine- and stress-induced apoptosis. This signaling pathway mediates a variety of cellular events, including cell proliferation, differentiation, and death. News & Videos Researchers Learn How Beryllium Causes Deadly Lung Disease Education Education 1998 Uppsala Biomedical Centre, Sweden, PhD Fellowship 2001 Purdue University (W. Lafayette, IN), Postdoctoral Fellow Awards & Recognition 2010-2014: Boettcher investigator 2011-2014: NIH KL2 Research Scholar 2014: First Place Winner, CCTSI Symposium poster session in the category of Junior Investigator 2014: Best Abstract Prize, European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology Congress Section editor of protein structure in chemical sciences for Amino acids 2007: Speaker, 13th International Congress of Immunology 2007: Young Scientist Travel Grant, 13th International Congress of Immunology 2006: Speaker, American Crystallographic Association meeting 2001: Travel Stipend from BioCARS Time Resolved Crystallography Workshop, 2000: Congress award from American Crystallographic Association for ACA meeting 1998: Travel award from Wallenberg’s foundation 1998: Travel grant from European Crystallography Meeting -18 Organizing Committee 1998: Travel grant from Organizing Committee of the Summer School "Structure and Function of Metalloproteins" 1996: Travel grant for young scientists in Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences 1996: Chinese Academy of Sciences travel grant for overseas scholars Professional Memberships AAI ACA Publications Cell. 2014 Jul 3;158(1):132-42. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2014.04.048.Structural basis of chronic beryllium disease: linking allergic hypersensitivity and autoimmunity.Clayton GM, Wang Y, Crawford F, Novikov A, Wimberly BT, Kieft JS, Falta MT, Bowerman NA, Marrack P, Fontenot AP, Dai S, Kappler JW. Curr Opin Immunol. 2013 Dec;25(6):775-80. doi: 10.1016/j.coi.2013.07.012. Epub 2013 Aug 23.T cell recognition of beryllium.Dai S, Falta MT, Bowerman NA, McKee AS, Fontenot AP. Immunol Res. 2013 Mar;55(1-3):83-90. doi: 10.1007/s12026-012-8351-1. Structural basis of metal hypersensitivity. Wang Y, Dai S. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012 Nov 6;109(45):18517-22. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1215928109. Epub 2012 Oct 22.T-cell receptor (TCR) interaction with peptides that mimic nickel offers insight into nickel contact allergy. Yin L, Crawford F, Marrack P, Kappler JW, Dai S. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2010 Apr 20;107(16):7425-30. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1001772107. Epub 2010 Mar 31.Crystal structure of HLA-DP2 and implications for chronic beryllium disease. Dai S, Murphy GA, Crawford F, Mack DG, Falta MT, Marrack P, Kappler JW, Fontenot AP. Academic Affiliations Associate Professor, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado Denver Teaching & Professional Positions 2014-Present: Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Research, National Jewish Health 2008-2014: Assistant Professor, Integrated Department of Immunology, National Jewish Health 2001-2008: Instructor, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Integrated Department of Immunology, National Jewish Health 1999- 2001: Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Biological Sciences, Lilly Hall of Life Sciences, Purdue University (West Lafayette, IN) 1993- 1999: Research Assistant, Department of Molecular Biology, Uppsala Biomedical Centre (Uppsala, Sweden) Ask a Question through MyChart Sign in to your MyChart account to communicate with your care team, manage appointments, and more. 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