University of Pennsylvania · BiologySkin Microbiome and Immunity Lab
Phillip Scott · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Research Focus
The lab led by Dr. Phillip Scott at the University of Pennsylvania focuses on the relationship between the skin microbiome and cutaneous leishmaniasis, a neglected tropical disease that results in severe skin lesions. They investigate how specific bacteria, like Staphylococcus aureus, contribute to disease severity, aiming to develop new therapies that target host immune responses. Additionally, the lab studies resident memory T cells in the skin to better understand how to enhance immunity against leishmaniasis and other diseases transmitted by vectors.
cutaneous leishmaniasisskin microbiomeStaphylococcus aureusT cell immunitynegligent tropical diseaseshost-directed therapiesmurine modelspeptide vaccines
Research Aims
5AIM 01Define mechanisms by which the skin microbiome affects disease severity in leishmaniasis.
AIM 02Identify S. aureus virulence factors linked to aggravated disease.
AIM 03Characterize the development and retention of CD4+ resident memory T cells in the skin.
AIM 04Develop strategies to expand the protective T cell population through vaccines.
AIM 05Test the efficacy of host-directed therapies in combination with skin commensal bacteria.
Skills the Lab Values
PCRcell culturein vivo modelsflow cytometryRNA sequencinggenomicsCRISPR/Cas9immunophenotypingmRNA-LNP delivery
Output against the department
Publications368top 13% of dept.139th of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations50ktop 5% of dept.55th of 1,033
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.