Alexis KALERGIS Ph.D. Lecturer of Immunology and Microbiology, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.
Dr Kalergis graduated in 1995 as Biochemist at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. In 1997 obtained a Master in Science and in 2000 a Ph. D., both at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. After one year as a Post-doctoral fellow at The Albert Einstein College of Medicine he moved to The Rockefeller University as a post-doctoral fellow.

ACADEMIC POSITIONS: Post-doctoral fellow at The Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Adjunt Faculty for Immunology, Yeshiva College, New York. Post-doctoral fellow, The Rockefeller University. Lecturer of Immunology and Microbiology, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.

RESEARCH: Dr. Kalergis line of investigation deals with the molecular interactions controlling the immunological synapse between the dendritic cell and the T lymphocyte and its implications in the defense against pathogens and tumors and the prevention of autoimmunity. Specifically, these studies aim to elucidate the cellular mechanisms by which dendritic cells trigger the activation of T lymphocytes. His group is using animal models to develop strategies to prevent the formation of the immunological synapsys, thus interfering with the onset of autoimmunity.

SELECTED REFERENCES

1.	MI Iruretagoyena, JA. Tobar, PA. González, SE. Sepúlveda, CA. Figueroa, RA. Burgos, JL. Hancke and AM. Kalergis. Andrographolide interferes with T cell activation and reduces Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis in the Mouse. (In press, Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 2004).
2.	JA. Tobar, PA. González and A.M. Kalergis. Salmonella escape from antigen presentation can be overcome by targeting bacteria to Fc? Receptors on dendritic cells. (Journal of Immunology, 2004, 173: 4058-4065).
3.	A.M. Kalergis. Modulation of T cell antigen recognition by activating/inhibitory receptor pairs on the antigen-presenting cell. Current Pharmaceutical Design; 2003, 9(3):233-44.
4.	A.M. Kalergis and Jeffrey V. Ravetch. Inducing tumor immunity through the selective engagement of activating Fc? receptors on dendritic cells. The Journal of Experimental Medicine, 2002 Jun 17;195(12):1653-9.)
5.	A.M. Kalergis, N. Boucheron, M.A. Doucey, E. Palmieri, E.C. Goyarts, Z. Vegh, I.F. Luescher and S.G. Nathenson. Efficient T cell activation requires an optimal dwell time of interaction between the TCR and the pMHC complex Nature Immunology. 2001; 2(3):229-34.
6.	D. Coombs, A. M. Kalergis, S.G. Nathenson, C. Wofsy and B. Goldstein. Activated TCR remain marked for internalization after dissociation from peptide-MHC. Nature Immunology, 2002, 3(10):926-31.