Publications

The neuroendocrine peptide catestatin promotes clearance of cutaneous Staphylococcus aureus through mast cell Mrgpr activation

2025. Guth C, Dychtenberg H, Rudolph E, Pozniak A, Gill S, Pundir P. The neuroendocrine peptide catestatin promotes clearance of cutaneous Staphylococcus aureus through mast cell Mrgpr activation. BioRxiv

Spatiotemporal dynamics of cryptococcal infection reveal novel immune modulatory mechanisms and antifungal targets

2025. Woods M, Muselius B, McAlister JA, Ball BJ, Segeren L, Da Silva M, Gutierrez-Gongora D, Ramezanpou S, Gill S, Pundir P, Deyarmin J, Hakimi A, Hermanson D, Richter J, Samra SN, Geddes-McAlister J. Spatiotemporal dynamics of cryptococcal infection reveal novel immune modulatory mechanisms and antifungal targets. BioRxiv

Bitter taste receptors in bacterial infections and innate immunity

2025. Rudolph E*, Dychtenberg H*, Pozniak A, Pundir P. Bitter taste receptors in bacterial infections and innate immunity. Immunity, Inflammation and Disease. Accepted.  

Protocol for pneumococcal meningitis induction in mice via non-surgical intracisternal injection

2025. Rudolph E, Dong X, Follansbee F*, Pundir P*. Protocol for pneumococcal meningitis induction in mice via non-surgical intracisternal injection. STAR Protocols. 6.103773.

The evolving role of mast cells in wound healing: insights from recent research and diverse models

2024. Guth C, Limjunyawong N, Pundir P. The evolving role of mast cells in wound healing: insights from recent research and diverse models. Immunology and Cell Biology. 102:878-890.

Emerging Role of the Mast Cell-Microbiota Crosstalk in Cutaneous Homeostasis and Immunity

2023. Bosveld CJ, Guth C, Limjunyawong N*, Pundir P*. Emerging Role of the Mast Cell-Microbiota Crosstalk in Cutaneous Homeostasis and Immunity. Cells. 12:2624.

Sodium butyrate suppresses malignant human mast cell proliferation, downregulates expression of KIT and promotes differentiation

2023. MacDonald CA, Qian H, Pundir P, Kulka M. Sodium butyrate supresses malignant human mast cell proliferation, downregulates expression of KIT and promotes differentiation. Frontiers in Allergy. 4:1109717.

Keratinocyte-derived defensins activate neutrophil-specific receptors Mrgpra2a/b to prevent skin dysbiosis and bacterial infection

2022. Dong X, Limjunyawong N, Sypek E, Wang G, Ortines R, Youn C, Alphonse MP, Dikeman D, Wang Y, Lay M, Pundir P, Goff L, Miller LS, Lu W, Garza L, Kim BS, Archer NK, Dong X. Keratinocyte-derived defensins activate neutrophil-specific receptors Mrgpra2a/b to prevent skin dysbiosis and bacterial infection. Immunity. 55:1645-1662.e7.

A connective tissue mast-cell-specific receptor detects quorum-sensing molecules and mediates antibacterial immunity

2019. Pundir P, Liu R, Vasavda C, Serhan N, Limjunyawong N, Yee R, Zhan Y, Dong X, Wu X, Zhang Y, Snyder SH, Gaudenzio N, Vidal JE, Dong X. A connective tissue mast-cell-specific receptor detects quorum sensing molecules and mediates antibacterial immunity. Cell Host Microbe. 26:114-122.

·       Previewed by – Kawakami T and Kasakura K. Mast cell eavesdropping on bacterial communications. Cell Host Microbe. 26:3-5. 2019

·       Highlighted in the Editor’s Choice section – VanHook AM. Mast cells tune in to quorum sensing. Science Signaling. 12.eaaz0499. 2019

A mast cell-specific receptor is critical for granuloma induced by intrathecal morphine infusion

2019. Zhang T, Liu R, Delu C, Wang N, Pundir P, Wang N, Han S, Cao J, Lv Y, Dong H, Fang F, Wang J, Ma P, Zhao T, Lei T, Dong X, He L. A mast cell-specific receptor is critical for granuloma induced by intrathecal morphine infusion. Journal of Immunology. 203:1701-1714.

A mast cell-specific receptor mediates neurogenic inflammation and pain

2019. Green DP, Limjunyawong N, Gour N, Pundir P, Dong X. A mast cell-specific receptor mediates neurogenic inflammation and pain. Neuron. 101:412-420.

Melanotan II causes hypothermia in mice by activation of mast cells and stimulation of histamine 1 receptors

2018. Jain S, Panyutin A, Liu N, Xiao C, Pinol RA, Pundir P, Girardet C, Butler AA, Dong X, Gavrilova O, Reitman ML. Melanotan II causes hypothermia in mice by activation of mast cells and stimulation of histamine 1 receptors. American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism. 315:E357-E366.

MRGPRX2 is essential for sinomenine hydrochloride induced anaphylactoid reactions

2017. Liu R, Che D, Zhao T, Pundir P, Cao J, Lv Y, Wang J, Ma P, Fu J, Wang N, Wang X, Zhang T, Dong X, He L. MRGPRX2 is essential for sinomenine hydrochloride induced anaphylactoid reactions. Biochemical Pharmacology. 146:214-223.

Typical antimicrobials induce mast cell degranulation and anaphylactoid reactions via MRGPRX2 and its murine homologue MRGPRB2

2017. Zhang T, Che D, Liu R, Han S, Wang N, Zhan Y, Pundir P, Cao J, Lv Y, Yang L, Wang J, Ding M, Dong X, He L. Typical antimicrobials induce mast cell degranulation and anaphylactoid reactions via MRGPRX2 and its murine homologue MRGPRB2. European Journal of Immunology. 47:1949-1958.

Identification of a mast-cell-specific receptor crucial for pseudo-allergic drug reactions

2015. McNeil BD, Pundir P, Meeker S, Han L, Undem BJ, Kulka M, Dong X. Identification of a mast-cell-specific receptor crucial for pseudo-allergic drug reactions. Nature. 519:237-241.

The novel receptor C5aR2 is required for C5a-mediated human mast cell adhesion, migration, and proinflammatory mediator production

2015. Pundir P, MacDonald CA, Kulka M. The novel receptor C5aR2 is required for C5a-mediated human mast cell adhesion, migration, and proinflammatory mediator production. Journal of Immunology. 195:2774-2787.

Pleurocidin, a novel antimicrobial peptide, induces human mast cell activation through the FPRL1 receptor

2014. Pundir P, Catalli A, Leggiadro C, Douglas SE, Kulka M. Pleurocidin, a novel antimicrobial peptide, induces human mast cell activation through the FPRL1 receptor. Mucosal Immunology. 7:177-187.

Inhibitory effects of resveratrol on mast cell degranulation, cytokine, chemokine and leukotriene release

2012. Catalli A, MacDonald C, Pundir P, Kulka M. Inhibitory effects of resveratrol on mast cell degranulation, cytokine, chemokine and leukotriene release. Open Journal of Immunology. 2:187-194.

The role of G protein-coupled receptors in mast cell activation by antimicrobial peptides: is there a connection?

2010. Pundir P, Kulka M. The role of G protein-coupled receptors in mast cell activation by antimicrobial peptides: is there a connection? Immunology and Cell Biology. 88:632-640.