Lab Members

Xintong Dong, PhD

Principal Investigator – xintong.dong@utdallas.edu

Hi! My name is Xintong. We use mouse genetic models to study antimicrobial peptide functions in host-microbe crosstalk and neuroimmunity. I love Miyazaki movies, video games, Rachmaninoff and cats.

https://profiles.utdallas.edu/xintong.dong

https://bsky.app/profile/xintong.bsky.social

Keean Dolan

Lab Manager – keean.dolan@utdallas.edu

Hi! I’m Keean, I graduated from Michigan State University in 2022 with a BS in Microbiology. In the Lab I study the pathogen Staphylococcus aureus and how it alters its transcription in the presence of host defense proteins. Outside of the Lab, you can usually find me outdoors, I love to hike and camp.

Maliha Batool

Postdoc – maliha.batool@utdallas.edu

My name is Maliha, and I am a postdoctoral researcher in the labs of Dr. Dong and Dr. De Nisco. My research focuses on urinary tract infections (UTIs), specifically the role of defensins in immunity against these infections. Outside of the lab, I enjoy watching movies, traveling, and spending time with my family.

Sharan Balaji

PhD Student

My name is Sharan, I work on the neuro-immune axis of antimicrobial peptide signaling in psoriasis. I love to watch anime and sports; pencil sketch; and eat food made by me. My favorite animal is a cheetah and bird is a vulture.

Waris Khuwaja

PhD Student

I’m Waris, I am passionate about immunology and cancer biology. In the lab I study the immunology and pain associated with urinary tract infections as well as T cell behavior during psoriatic itch. Outside of the lab I like to cook, read, and travel.

Bhavani Balasundarasekar

PhD Student

I’m Bhavani, in the lab I study antimicrobial peptide defense activity against Staphylococcus aureus skin infection. I am an ebullient and cheerful personality, in my free time I love cooking and listening to music.

Joyes Varughese

Masters Student

I’m Joyes, in the lab my project is centered around purifying neutrophils and examining their activation and gene expression in mutant mice. My favorite hobby is listening to music.

Helena Ramning

Masters Student

In her Undergrad Helena worked with Keean and Bhavani analyzing how antimicrobial peptides alter the transcription of the pathogen Staphylococcus aureus. Helena is now a Masters student in the MBCB program at UT Dallas, performing Bioinformatics for the Dong Lab.

Luchiano Fernando

Undergraduate Student

I am Luchiano. I work on MRGPRS, which are GPCRs implicated in the itch-neuro-immune pathway. In my free time, I enjoy playing classical piano works, talking with friends, and hitting balls on the tennis court. I am super happy to be here with the Dong Lab.

Yining Liu

Undergraduate Student

I’m Yining, in the lab I analyze gene expression in a human neutrophil cell line alongside Sharan. A fun fact about me is if you translate my name in Chinese, it means “One One”

Julia Nguyen

Undergraduate Student

I’m Julia, in the lab I work with Waris investigating the immunological and neurophysiological responses to UTI’s in mice ᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷ. Outside of the lab I like kite flying and Karaoke-ing.

Priyanka Priyadarshini

Masters Student ~ 2023-2024

Priyanka’s research explored the presence of GPCRs in human basophils.