Alice S. Prince
· Professor of Pediatrics (in Pediatrics), Professor of Molecular Pharmacology and TherapeuticsColumbia University · Molecular Pharmacology
Active 1921–2026
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About
Alice S. Prince, MD, is a Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Her research focuses on the interactions of bacteria and respiratory epithelial cells to understand the pathogenesis of bacterial infections in cystic fibrosis (CF). Her work has particularly emphasized the molecular mechanisms involved in bacteria activation of epithelial proinflammatory cytokine expression, with a focus on Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the major bacterial pathogen in CF. Dr. Prince's studies have demonstrated that P. aeruginosa recognizes asialylated glycolipid receptors on airway epithelial cells, which are increased in cells with CFTR mutations, leading to activation of inflammatory pathways involving calcium signaling, mitogen-activated protein kinases, and NF-kB, resulting in airway inflammation. Her ongoing research aims to identify cell components involved in these pathways and to test therapeutic strategies using murine models of pulmonary infection. Dr. Prince is also a board-certified pediatric infectious disease specialist and has trained at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, completing her internship, residency, and fellowship at Babies & Children's Hospital - Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center.
Research topics
- Biochemistry
- Microbiology
- Biology
- Medicine
- Immunology
- Genetics
- Internal medicine
- Cell biology
- Chemistry
Selected publications
Nature Communications · 2021 · 145 citations
Staphylococcus aureus is a prominent human pathogen that readily adapts to host immune defenses. Here, we show that, in contrast to Gram-negative pathogens, S. aureus induces a distinct airway immunometabolic response dominated by the release of the electrophilic metabolite, itaconate. The itaconate synthetic enzyme, IRG1, is activated by host mitochondrial stress, which is induced by staphylococcal glycolysis. Itaconate inhibits S. aureus glycolysis and selects for strains that re-direct carbon…
Immunometabolic crosstalk during bacterial infection
Nature Microbiology · 2022 · 143 citations
Klebsiella pneumoniae induces host metabolic stress that promotes tolerance to pulmonary infection
Cell Metabolism · 2022 · 101 citations
Senior authorCorrespondingStaphylococcus aureus stimulates neutrophil itaconate production that suppresses the oxidative burst
Cell Reports · 2023 · 85 citations
Senior authorCorrespondingNeutrophils are critical in the host defense against Staphylococcus aureus, a major human pathogen. However, even in the setting of a robust neutrophil response, S. aureus can evade immune clearance. Here, we demonstrate that S. aureus impairs neutrophil function by triggering the production of the anti-inflammatory metabolite itaconate. The enzyme that synthesizes itaconate, Irg1, is selectively expressed in neutrophils during S. aureus pneumonia. Itaconate inhibits neutrophil glycolysis and ox…
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology · 2022-12-27 · 39 citations
reviewOpen accessDespite meritorious attempts, a S. aureus vaccine that prevents infection or mitigates severity has not yet achieved efficacy endpoints in prospective, randomized clinical trials. This experience underscores the complexity of host- S. aureus interactions, which appear to be greater than many other bacterial pathogens against which successful vaccines have been developed. It is increasingly evident that S. aureus employs strategic countermeasures to evade or exploit human immune responses. From e…
Recent grants
NIH · $4.0M · 2006
NIH · $1.6M · 2018
NIH · $2.3M · 2006
Frequent coauthors
- 38 shared
Grace Soong
Columbia University
- 34 shared
Dane Parker
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
- 28 shared
Ruth Bryan
- 26 shared
Paul J. Planet
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
- 19 shared
Marisa I. Gómez
University of Buenos Aires
- 18 shared
Danielle Ahn
Columbia University Irving Medical Center
- 18 shared
Taylor S. Cohen
AstraZeneca (United States)
- 17 shared
Tania Wong Fok Lung
Columbia University
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