Loyola University Chicago · Microbiology & ImmunologyBaker Immunology Lab
Susan C. Baker · Chicago, Illinois
Research Focus
Dr. Susan C. Baker's lab at Loyola University Chicago focuses on understanding how coronaviruses, specifically SARS-CoV-2, evade the immune system. The research investigates the role of viral proteins, called interferon antagonists, in delaying the immune response, which helps the virus replicate without being detected by the host’s defenses. The team's ultimate goal is to pave the way for new antiviral therapies and vaccines against COVID-19 and other emerging coronaviruses.
SARS-CoV-2interferon antagonistsinnate immune responsecoronavirus pathogenesisantiviral therapy
Research Aims
3AIM 01Investigate how EndoU contributes to delaying the immune response to SARS-CoV-2.
AIM 02Evaluate the role of other IFN antagonists in modulating immune responses in human airway cells.
AIM 03Identify the regions of PUN RNA necessary for recognition by viral and host factors.
Skills the Lab Values
cell culturereverse geneticscryoelectron microscopyRNA extractionviral infection models
Output against the department
Publications164top 41% of dept.197th of 486
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations25ktop 14% of dept.68th of 486
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.