Vijay Rathinam
@vijayrathinam.bsky.social
Professor of Immunology, UConn Health School of Medicine.
Studying innate immunity, infection and inflammation.
https://facultydirectory.uchc.edu/profile?profileId=Rathinam-Vijay2
Studying innate immunity, infection and inflammation.
https://facultydirectory.uchc.edu/profile?profileId=Rathinam-Vijay2
Pinned
Why does RNA undergo glycosylation? Excited to have our paper out. We in collab w/ Ryan Flynn @raflynn5.bsky.social show N-glycans on glycoRNA hide self-RNA from endosomal TLRs promoting silent removal of dead cells. www.nature.com/articles/s41... @uconnresearch.bsky.social @uconnhealth.bsky.social
Reposted by Vijay Rathinam
#ToPrimeOrNotToPrime, this is the question! Excited for our new review @cp-trendsimmuno.bsky.social with @oceanedufies.bsky.social in which we discuss what is “priming” for the #NLRP3 #inflammasome & how we can harness this knowledge to better control human diseases! #InflammasomePower! #Free 👇👇👇
ScienceDirect.com | Science, health and medical journals, full text articles and books.
authors.elsevier.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:26 PM
#ToPrimeOrNotToPrime, this is the question! Excited for our new review @cp-trendsimmuno.bsky.social with @oceanedufies.bsky.social in which we discuss what is “priming” for the #NLRP3 #inflammasome & how we can harness this knowledge to better control human diseases! #InflammasomePower! #Free 👇👇👇
Reposted by Vijay Rathinam
New story from the lab by PhD student Seb Grant. Started as a summer project and developed into an interesting story.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Evolutionary convergence of a Pyroptosis-Apoptosis crosstalk drives non-canonical inflammasome signalling.
The coordination of efficient immune responses to infections is essential to enable pathogen clearance and host survival. Cell death modalities are a crucial component of the innate immune system and ...
www.biorxiv.org
November 3, 2025 at 3:43 PM
New story from the lab by PhD student Seb Grant. Started as a summer project and developed into an interesting story.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Vijay Rathinam
Delighted that this study is finally out @embojournal.org. A detailed analysis of how DNGR-1/CLEC9A signals to promote cross-presentation of dead cell-associated antigens yet does not activate dendritic cells.
www.embopress.org/doi/full/10....
www.embopress.org/doi/full/10....
DNGR-1 signalling limits dendritic cell activation for optimal antigen cross-presentation | The EMBO Journal
imageimageDNGR-1 (CLEC9A) is a C-type lectin receptor of type-1 conventional dendritic cells (cDC1s) with an important role in cross-presentation of dead cell antigens. This study explores how it equips cDC1s with the ability to cross-present such ...
www.embopress.org
November 3, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Delighted that this study is finally out @embojournal.org. A detailed analysis of how DNGR-1/CLEC9A signals to promote cross-presentation of dead cell-associated antigens yet does not activate dendritic cells.
www.embopress.org/doi/full/10....
www.embopress.org/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Vijay Rathinam
🚨Thrilled to share our latest work, published online today
@nature.com in which we decipher mechanisms underlying the enigmatic VEXAS syndrome - a huge team effort
@mskcancercenter.bsky.social led by superstars Varun Narendra + @tandriladas.bsky.social 1/
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
@nature.com in which we decipher mechanisms underlying the enigmatic VEXAS syndrome - a huge team effort
@mskcancercenter.bsky.social led by superstars Varun Narendra + @tandriladas.bsky.social 1/
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Independent mechanisms of inflammation and myeloid bias in VEXAS syndrome - Nature
Nature - Independent mechanisms of inflammation and myeloid bias in VEXAS syndrome
www.nature.com
November 4, 2025 at 12:52 AM
🚨Thrilled to share our latest work, published online today
@nature.com in which we decipher mechanisms underlying the enigmatic VEXAS syndrome - a huge team effort
@mskcancercenter.bsky.social led by superstars Varun Narendra + @tandriladas.bsky.social 1/
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
@nature.com in which we decipher mechanisms underlying the enigmatic VEXAS syndrome - a huge team effort
@mskcancercenter.bsky.social led by superstars Varun Narendra + @tandriladas.bsky.social 1/
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Vijay Rathinam
Check out our latest work led by two talented postdocs, Madhura @mkulkarni.bsky.social and Chris. We find that CASP4/5 can cleave and activate CASP3/7, acting as initiators of both pyroptosis and apoptosis. Notably, both are needed for full pathogen defense!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Human non-canonical inflammasomes activate CASP3 to limit intracellular Salmonella replication in macrophages.
Inflammasomes are multiprotein signaling platforms that activate inflammatory caspases to induce pyroptosis. In humans, canonical inflammasomes activate CASP1, which cleaves the pore-forming protein g...
www.biorxiv.org
November 3, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Check out our latest work led by two talented postdocs, Madhura @mkulkarni.bsky.social and Chris. We find that CASP4/5 can cleave and activate CASP3/7, acting as initiators of both pyroptosis and apoptosis. Notably, both are needed for full pathogen defense!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Vijay Rathinam
#InflammasomePower! 💥New paper alert💥 How is NLPR3 primed & activated in chronic non-communicable inflammatory diseases? With @oceanedufies.bsky.social &co we show that chronic exposure to oxPAPC drives NRF2 activation that primes & activates NLRP3 sustaining #atherosclerosis in mice & humans! 👇👇👇
Chronic sensing of host-derived lipids is an all-in-one signal that primes and activates NLRP3.
Activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome leads to the production of bioactive interleukin (IL)-1β fostering atherosclerosis. The current dogma is that NLRP3 must be first primed by microbial stimuli, know...
www.biorxiv.org
October 31, 2025 at 3:49 PM
#InflammasomePower! 💥New paper alert💥 How is NLPR3 primed & activated in chronic non-communicable inflammatory diseases? With @oceanedufies.bsky.social &co we show that chronic exposure to oxPAPC drives NRF2 activation that primes & activates NLRP3 sustaining #atherosclerosis in mice & humans! 👇👇👇
Reposted by Vijay Rathinam
Thanks for the discussion - fun to hear how it’s read!
In our latest episode, @woodrufflab.bsky.social and @kevinbonham.com talk about glycoRNAs, and the way they're shielded from the immune system in a new paper from the labs of @raflynn5.bsky.social and @vijayrathinam.bsky.social 🧪
audiommunity.org/episodes/epi...
audiommunity.org/episodes/epi...
Episode 47 - When you're a hammer
YouTube video by Audiommunity
www.youtube.com
October 24, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Thanks for the discussion - fun to hear how it’s read!
Reposted by Vijay Rathinam
Did you know that there are small RNAs embedded in the plasma membrane of your cells? I didn't!
But your immune system sure does! New episode of @audiommunity.org out now! 🧪
audiommunity.org/episodes/epi...
But your immune system sure does! New episode of @audiommunity.org out now! 🧪
audiommunity.org/episodes/epi...
Episode 47 - When you're a hammer
YouTube video by Audiommunity
youtu.be
October 23, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Did you know that there are small RNAs embedded in the plasma membrane of your cells? I didn't!
But your immune system sure does! New episode of @audiommunity.org out now! 🧪
audiommunity.org/episodes/epi...
But your immune system sure does! New episode of @audiommunity.org out now! 🧪
audiommunity.org/episodes/epi...
Thanks to Autoimmunity podcast @kevinbonham.bsky.social & @woodrufflab.bsky.social for discussing our glycoRNA paper w/ @raflynn5.bsky.social @vinnieviruses.bsky.social
In our latest episode, @woodrufflab.bsky.social and @kevinbonham.com talk about glycoRNAs, and the way they're shielded from the immune system in a new paper from the labs of @raflynn5.bsky.social and @vijayrathinam.bsky.social 🧪
audiommunity.org/episodes/epi...
audiommunity.org/episodes/epi...
Episode 47 - When you're a hammer
YouTube video by Audiommunity
www.youtube.com
October 24, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Thanks to Autoimmunity podcast @kevinbonham.bsky.social & @woodrufflab.bsky.social for discussing our glycoRNA paper w/ @raflynn5.bsky.social @vinnieviruses.bsky.social
Reposted by Vijay Rathinam
Check out our new publication, a collaboration with Giovanni Luchetti and Vishva Dixit @ Genentech.
We show that the E.coli effector NleL inhibits intestinal epithelial cell extrusion after #inflammasome activation via degrading the kinases ROCK1 and 2!!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Explainer 1/8
We show that the E.coli effector NleL inhibits intestinal epithelial cell extrusion after #inflammasome activation via degrading the kinases ROCK1 and 2!!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Explainer 1/8
Enteropathogenic bacteria evade ROCK-driven epithelial cell extrusion - Nature
The bacterial ubiquitin ligase NleL evades host defence mechanisms both by inhibiting pyroptosis and by preventing infected intestinal epithelial cells from being extruded into the lumen and expelled ...
www.nature.com
October 22, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Check out our new publication, a collaboration with Giovanni Luchetti and Vishva Dixit @ Genentech.
We show that the E.coli effector NleL inhibits intestinal epithelial cell extrusion after #inflammasome activation via degrading the kinases ROCK1 and 2!!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Explainer 1/8
We show that the E.coli effector NleL inhibits intestinal epithelial cell extrusion after #inflammasome activation via degrading the kinases ROCK1 and 2!!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Explainer 1/8
Reposted by Vijay Rathinam
Sugar coats shield immunogenic RNA modification:A new function for RNA glycosylation
Sugar coats shield immunogenic RNA modification:A new function for RNA glycosylation
A new function of glycosylated RNAs has been discovered by Graziano et al. in which the glycosylation of RNA molecules shields acp³U RNA modification from triggering innate immune responses.
dlvr.it
October 20, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Sugar coats shield immunogenic RNA modification:A new function for RNA glycosylation
Reposted by Vijay Rathinam
@cellcellpress.bsky.social spotlight
Sugar coats shield immunogenic RNA modification:A new function for RNA glycosylation
www.cell.com/molecular-ce...
on @nature.com
www.nature.com/articles/s41... @vijayrathinam.bsky.social
Sugar coats shield immunogenic RNA modification:A new function for RNA glycosylation
www.cell.com/molecular-ce...
on @nature.com
www.nature.com/articles/s41... @vijayrathinam.bsky.social
October 17, 2025 at 4:39 PM
@cellcellpress.bsky.social spotlight
Sugar coats shield immunogenic RNA modification:A new function for RNA glycosylation
www.cell.com/molecular-ce...
on @nature.com
www.nature.com/articles/s41... @vijayrathinam.bsky.social
Sugar coats shield immunogenic RNA modification:A new function for RNA glycosylation
www.cell.com/molecular-ce...
on @nature.com
www.nature.com/articles/s41... @vijayrathinam.bsky.social
Sugar coats shield immunogenic RNA modification:A new function for RNA glycosylation: Molecular Cell www.cell.com/molecular-ce... @raflynn5.bsky.social @vinnieviruses.bsky.social
Sugar coats shield immunogenic RNA modification:A new function for RNA glycosylation
A new function of glycosylated RNAs has been discovered by Graziano et al. in which
the glycosylation of RNA molecules shields acp³U RNA modification from triggering
innate immune responses.
www.cell.com
October 18, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Sugar coats shield immunogenic RNA modification:A new function for RNA glycosylation: Molecular Cell www.cell.com/molecular-ce... @raflynn5.bsky.social @vinnieviruses.bsky.social
Reposted by Vijay Rathinam
Delighted to celebrate @cincyresearch.bsky.social @labwaggoner.bsky.social PhD student Eshana Mukhopadhyay on her Cutting Edge manuscript out today in @jimmunol.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/jimmunol/adv...
academic.oup.com/jimmunol/adv...
October 17, 2025 at 2:07 AM
Delighted to celebrate @cincyresearch.bsky.social @labwaggoner.bsky.social PhD student Eshana Mukhopadhyay on her Cutting Edge manuscript out today in @jimmunol.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/jimmunol/adv...
academic.oup.com/jimmunol/adv...
Reposted by Vijay Rathinam
We’re excited to report work led by postdoc Jennifer Porat in the lab, finding that DNA accumulates on the surface of living cells and that the secreted extracellular protein DNASE1L3 can modulate its levels on B and T cells. With a new twist for ATAC-seq as well www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
DNASE1L3 surveils mitochondrial DNA on the surface of distinct mammalian cells
The extracellular space is a critical environment for discriminating self versus non-self nucleic acids and initiating the appropriate immune responses through signaling cascades to relay information ...
www.biorxiv.org
October 7, 2025 at 1:22 PM
We’re excited to report work led by postdoc Jennifer Porat in the lab, finding that DNA accumulates on the surface of living cells and that the secreted extracellular protein DNASE1L3 can modulate its levels on B and T cells. With a new twist for ATAC-seq as well www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Vijay Rathinam
📢A new effector-triggered immunity role for GBP1! No place for pathogens to hide now that GBP1 can detect extracellular pathogens that hijack the actin cytoskeleton. Surprise*suprise* GBP1 does this independently of LPS! 🧵
biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
September 28, 2025 at 10:36 AM
📢A new effector-triggered immunity role for GBP1! No place for pathogens to hide now that GBP1 can detect extracellular pathogens that hijack the actin cytoskeleton. Surprise*suprise* GBP1 does this independently of LPS! 🧵
biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Vijay Rathinam
Pleased to share and briefly highlight our new manuscript just published 𝘑𝘊𝘐 𝘐𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 (a short🧵)
"A STING-adjuvanted outer membrane vesicle nanoparticle vaccine protects against lethal 𝘗𝘴𝘦𝘶𝘥𝘰𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘦𝘳𝘶𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘰𝘴𝘢 pneumonia"
🔗 doi.org/10.1172/jci....
"A STING-adjuvanted outer membrane vesicle nanoparticle vaccine protects against lethal 𝘗𝘴𝘦𝘶𝘥𝘰𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘦𝘳𝘶𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘰𝘴𝘢 pneumonia"
🔗 doi.org/10.1172/jci....
September 11, 2025 at 2:37 AM
Pleased to share and briefly highlight our new manuscript just published 𝘑𝘊𝘐 𝘐𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 (a short🧵)
"A STING-adjuvanted outer membrane vesicle nanoparticle vaccine protects against lethal 𝘗𝘴𝘦𝘶𝘥𝘰𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘦𝘳𝘶𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘰𝘴𝘢 pneumonia"
🔗 doi.org/10.1172/jci....
"A STING-adjuvanted outer membrane vesicle nanoparticle vaccine protects against lethal 𝘗𝘴𝘦𝘶𝘥𝘰𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘦𝘳𝘶𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘰𝘴𝘢 pneumonia"
🔗 doi.org/10.1172/jci....
Reposted by Vijay Rathinam
An NLRP3 stimulatory universal influenza vaccine.
We report an NLRP3 stimulus that generates hyperactive dendritic cells (hDCs).
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
We report an NLRP3 stimulus that generates hyperactive dendritic cells (hDCs).
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
An NLRP3-stimulatory adjuvant improves the immunogenicity of influenza virus vaccines in mice and non-human primates | mBio
The generation of vaccines that stimulate T cell activities is an unmet need for the
scientific community, as T cells are the primary mediators of immune memory. In this
study, we report a new vaccine...
journals.asm.org
September 8, 2025 at 7:19 PM
An NLRP3 stimulatory universal influenza vaccine.
We report an NLRP3 stimulus that generates hyperactive dendritic cells (hDCs).
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
We report an NLRP3 stimulus that generates hyperactive dendritic cells (hDCs).
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
Reposted by Vijay Rathinam
Excited to share our new publication, out today in Nature! www.nature.com/articles/s41.... @kanchanj.bsky.social led this fascinating fungal-bacterial interaction project. We are grateful for our wonderful collaborators Brian Peters and David Underhill.
Commensal yeast promotes Salmonella Typhimurium virulence - Nature
Commensal Candida albicans enhances the virulence and dissemination of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium.
www.nature.com
September 3, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Excited to share our new publication, out today in Nature! www.nature.com/articles/s41.... @kanchanj.bsky.social led this fascinating fungal-bacterial interaction project. We are grateful for our wonderful collaborators Brian Peters and David Underhill.
Reposted by Vijay Rathinam
So excited that this study is now online! It's been a pleasure to work with BioAge Labs and our collaborators on this story. We characterise a new class of #NLRP3 inhibitors with translational potential for so many inflammatory diseases.
#NLRP3 is a target for antiinflammatory therapies & can be inhibited by the tool compound MCC950. Wilhelmsen, @colllab.bsky.social et al characterize new small-molecule inhibitors, BAL-0028 & BAL-0598, that have a distinct mechanism of action & binding site. rupress.org/jem/article/...
#Inflammasome
#Inflammasome
September 2, 2025 at 4:22 PM
So excited that this study is now online! It's been a pleasure to work with BioAge Labs and our collaborators on this story. We characterise a new class of #NLRP3 inhibitors with translational potential for so many inflammatory diseases.
Reposted by Vijay Rathinam
#InterferonPower! Thrilled for our latest work @cp-cell.bsky.social! With @danielboehmer.bsky.social, we dug into tons of papers & created what we hope will be a go-to resource for immunologists & non-immunologist about type I, II, III (& IV😉) #interferons! Free👉 authors.elsevier.com/a/1leKGL7PXu...
August 21, 2025 at 3:20 PM
#InterferonPower! Thrilled for our latest work @cp-cell.bsky.social! With @danielboehmer.bsky.social, we dug into tons of papers & created what we hope will be a go-to resource for immunologists & non-immunologist about type I, II, III (& IV😉) #interferons! Free👉 authors.elsevier.com/a/1leKGL7PXu...
Reposted by Vijay Rathinam
Another piece of the #glycoRNA puzzle revealed by @raflynn5.bsky.social and @vijayrathinam.bsky.social!! RNAs with modified base acp3U activate TLR3/7, but not when acp3U is N-glycosylated. This is how cell surface/secreted glycoRNAs avoid stimulating autoimmunity.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
RNA N-glycosylation enables immune evasion and homeostatic efferocytosis - Nature
N-glycans on glycoRNAs prevent innate immune sensing of endogenous small RNAs, and the natural mechanism they use demonstrates how glycoRNAs exist on the cell surface and in the endosomal network with...
www.nature.com
August 19, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Another piece of the #glycoRNA puzzle revealed by @raflynn5.bsky.social and @vijayrathinam.bsky.social!! RNAs with modified base acp3U activate TLR3/7, but not when acp3U is N-glycosylated. This is how cell surface/secreted glycoRNAs avoid stimulating autoimmunity.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Vijay Rathinam
#GlycoPower! @vijayrathinam.bsky.social
@raflynn5.bsky.social @vinnieviruses.bsky.social &co show @nature.com that N-glycosylation of host small-RNAs present at cell surface prevents immune recognition by TLR3 and TLR7 upon apoptotic cells uptake avoiding autoinflammation!
@raflynn5.bsky.social @vinnieviruses.bsky.social &co show @nature.com that N-glycosylation of host small-RNAs present at cell surface prevents immune recognition by TLR3 and TLR7 upon apoptotic cells uptake avoiding autoinflammation!
RNA N-glycosylation enables immune evasion and homeostatic efferocytosis - Nature
N-glycans on glycoRNAs prevent innate immune sensing of endogenous small RNAs, and the natural mechanism they use demonstrates how glycoRNAs exist on the cell surface and in the endosomal network with...
www.nature.com
August 6, 2025 at 10:12 PM
#GlycoPower! @vijayrathinam.bsky.social
@raflynn5.bsky.social @vinnieviruses.bsky.social &co show @nature.com that N-glycosylation of host small-RNAs present at cell surface prevents immune recognition by TLR3 and TLR7 upon apoptotic cells uptake avoiding autoinflammation!
@raflynn5.bsky.social @vinnieviruses.bsky.social &co show @nature.com that N-glycosylation of host small-RNAs present at cell surface prevents immune recognition by TLR3 and TLR7 upon apoptotic cells uptake avoiding autoinflammation!
Reposted by Vijay Rathinam
@vijayrathinam.bsky.social @vinnieviruses.bsky.social @raflynn5.bsky.social discovers why RNA undergoes glycosylation: N-glycans on glycoRNAs hide self-RNA from endosomal TLRs promoting ‘silent’ clearance of dead cells @nature.com
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
August 6, 2025 at 6:27 PM
@vijayrathinam.bsky.social @vinnieviruses.bsky.social @raflynn5.bsky.social discovers why RNA undergoes glycosylation: N-glycans on glycoRNAs hide self-RNA from endosomal TLRs promoting ‘silent’ clearance of dead cells @nature.com
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Vijay Rathinam
Check out this @nature.com paper from the brilliant scientist I get to call my husband!!!!
Hi everybody! I am super excited to share the work done during my PhD published in @nature today! We describe a new mechanism of self- vs. non-self RNA discrimination by showing how N-glycans shield glycoRNAs from stimulating endosomal RNA sensors www.nature.com/articles/s41...
RNA N-glycosylation enables immune evasion and homeostatic efferocytosis - Nature
N-glycans on glycoRNAs prevent innate immune sensing of endogenous small RNAs, and the natural mechanism they use demonstrates how glycoRNAs exist on the cell surface and in the endosomal network with...
www.nature.com
August 6, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Check out this @nature.com paper from the brilliant scientist I get to call my husband!!!!