Martin Trapecar

🚀 New paper out (Open Access): a same-donor, cross-tissue scRNA-seq + TCR-seq map of T cells across the human **gut–liver–blood axis**. The gut–liver axis is arguably the body’s most immunologically active interface, where constant exposure to dietary and microbial antigens meets the liver’s high-volume immune filtration. Yet we still poorly understand how individual T-cell clones are connected across multiple organs within the same person via circulation and tissue seeding. Strikingly, even within a single organ the colon’s IEL and lamina propria T-cell compartments behave like distinct ecosystems, showing huge diversity and surprisingly little clonal overlap despite being separated by only microns. Key takeaways: 📈 Across tissues, highly expanded clones share a core “clonal success” transcriptional signature 🧩 Niche signaling points to **liver-derived ligands shaping colon TRM states** (via integrin-linked axes) 🧭 Tissue-resident programs diverge strongly across sites (colon vs liver), with LP TRMs enriched for interferon-stimulated programs 🔀 **IEL vs lamina propria** clonotype overlap is *modest* → limited exchange between these compartments 🔥 In liver, **MAIT cells dominate the most expanded clonotypes** If you care about tissue-resident immunity, MAIT biology, or how immune circuits adapt across connected organs, I’d love to hear what resonates (and what you’d want to see next). 👇 Paper link in the comments. #CellReports #SingleCell #Immunology #TCells #TissueResident #Gut #Liver #humanbiomimetics #JHACH #JHU

Would you like to break open a new frontier in fighting pediatric brain cancers? Join us > nature.com/naturecareers/…

Immunologist’s “immunocompetent”: innate sensors fire, APC relay, T-cells boom, B-cells class-switch, antibodies refine, memory locks in. Bioengineer: sprinkled monocytes on a chip. #NotTheSameThing

We need to simplify the engineering so that we can complicate the biology #NAMs #MPS #OrganChips

Key findings: Distinct tissue-resident T cell phenotypes, limited clonal exchange between gut IELs & LP, & potential liver influence on colon T cells!

This work highlights the importance of studying human immunity in situ & has implications for understanding tissue-specific diseases. #gutliveraxis #tissueimmunity #humanimmunology

New #bioRxiv preprint with @_DougBru ! We explored T cell diversity & clonal dynamics across the human gut-liver-blood axis using single-cell RNA & TCR sequencing of matched samples. 1/3 biorxiv.org/content/10.110… #immunology #Tcells #scRNAseq

Tech convergance and unpredictable future of biothreats nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2025/… #defense #CBRN #bioweapons

@davidasinclair @Cell_Metabolism Activity of SCFA is context and ratio dependent as well as the metabolic and proliferative state of cells. For example, they can drive excessive T cell effector function including in IBD.

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) promote gut health, lower inflammation and might promote longevity. New study reports sugary drinks are associated with fewer gut bacterial species that make SCFAs @Cell_Metabolism 🧵

When one’s cover letter says:”I am particularly drawn to this opportunity [specific aspects of the lab ,e.g., its focus in chromatin dynamics or translational applications]. I am confident that my technical expertise aligns well with the goals of your team.”

@LindaGGriffith1 @DALauffenburger @ImmunoFever Happy to attest to how amazing that togetherness is for science and trainees

There is an in between. I lead my own lab, but integrated with @DALauffenburger lab (and recently @ImmunoFever lab), joint lab meetings, physical space, and many joint grants, co-advised students. But also each our own robust outside lives that make the togetherness amazing.

@swampgator13 @Scobleizer @Tesla @elonmusk s

@Scobleizer @Tesla @elonmusk All he had to do was lay out the timeline clearly. He didn't. Stock will tank today. I love this company, but sometimes, damn.

I am about to go to bed. The markets won’t get what happened last night at @tesla. I couldn’t be more impressed. @elonmusk laid out a bunch for next decade. I have been to a lot of product launches and never have been to one like this.

We are hiring nature.com/naturecareers/…

Our preprint: Systematic Analysis of Human Colorectal Cancer scRNA-seq Revealed Limited Pro-tumoral IL-17 Production Potential in Gamma Delta T Cells biorxiv.org/content/10.110… @forum_gd @_DougBrubaker @MTrapecar #Immunology #gdTcells #Cancer #colorectalcancer

Me: dedicating half a page of the R01 proposal describing the fluidics and perfusion of our system. Rev 3: major flaw of the approach is the lack of any perfusion…. 😂

Lab meetings these days…

The Trapecar Lab Career Exploration Day

Our troupe is excited to be at #BMES2023. We will present several posters and I am particularly honored to give a keynote lecture on multiorgan microphysiological systems for the studies of immunity.

Academia is a elite gym where minds get ripped by questioning everything, including the membership fees.