Heather A. Bruns

Heather A. Bruns
Professor

Senior Scientist (C), UAB Immunology Institute , School of Medicine
Scientist (C), Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS) , General Clinical Research Center
Professor (P), Microbiology , Academic Joint Departments
Vice Chair for Education, Microbiology , Academic Joint Departments

Selected Publications

Academic Article

Year	Title	Altmetric
2022	Piecing Complement Together with LEGO Bricks: Impacts on Interest, Confidence, and Learning in the Immunology Classroom 2022
2022	Antigen and Immunogen: An Investigation into the Heterogeneity of Immunology Terminology in Learning Resources 2022
2021	An Analysis of Factors That Influence Students to Pursue Immunology 2021
2021	Inside the undergraduate immunology classroom: Current practices that provide a framework for curriculum consensus. Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education. 22. 2021
2020	The Future of Undergraduate Immunology Education: Can a Comprehensive Four-Year Immunology Curriculum Answer Calls for Reform in Undergraduate Biology Education? 2020
2020	Using real-world examples of the COVID-19 pandemic to increase student confidence in their scientific literacy skills. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education. 48:678-684. 2020
2019	Out of the Curricular Shadows: Revolutionizing Undergraduate Immunology Education. Frontiers in Immunology. 10. 2019
2019	Simvastatin and ML141 decrease intracellular streptococcus pyogenes infection. Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology. 20:733-744. 2019
2016	Short term, low dose simvastatin pretreatment alters memory immune function following secondary staphylococcus aureus infection. Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology. 17:886-893. 2016
2016	The Effect of Lonicera japonica on LPS-Stimulated B-Cell Functions. Journal of Herbs, Spices and Medicinal Plants. 22:139-147. 2016
2014	Long-term repeated daily use of intragastric gavage hinders induction of oral tolerance to ovalbumin in mice. Comparative Medicine (Memphis). 64:369-376. 2014
2014	Th17 cells demonstrate stable cytokine production in a proallergic environment. Journal of Immunology. 193:2631-2640. 2014
2014	Small molecule inhibitors limit endothelial cell invasion by staphylococcus aureus. Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology. 15:727-737. 2014
2013	Host cell invasion by Staphylococcus aureus stimulates the shedding of microvesicles. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 432:695-700. 2013
2013	Short term statin treatment improves survival and differentially regulates macrophage-mediated responses to staphylococcus aureus. Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology. 14:233-241. 2013
2012	Erythromycin treatment hinders the induction of oral tolerance to fed ovalbumin. Frontiers in Immunology. 3. 2012
2010	Active immune response protects Stat6VT transgenic mice from developing a lymphoproliferative disorder. Immunobiology. 215:579-585. 2010
2010	GTPase activating protein function of p85 facilitates uptake and recycling of the β1 integrin. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 391:443-448. 2010
2008	IL-4 is a critical determinant in the generation of allergic inflammation initiated by a constitutively active Stat6. Journal of Immunology. 180:3551-3559. 2008

Research Overview

My research involves identifying factors that may influence a student’s decision to pursue studying immunology at the undergraduate and graduate levels, investigating methods that can improve how we teach immunology in the undergraduate classroom as well as examining the effectiveness of learning activities aimed at teaching immunology concepts.