Shivam Zaver

Year Entered MSTP: 2015

Prior Education

College:	University of California-Los Angeles
Degree:	B.S., Biochemistry

Student Information

Mentor(s)	Woodward, Josh PhD Faculty Website »
Primary Department	Molecular and Cell Biology

Doctorate Information

Dissertation Title:	New insights into cGAMP signaling in innate immunity
Defense Date:	2020-12-07

Current Positions

Title:	Resident
Location:	Dermatology, U Penn

Publications »

Current Research

Folate Transporter’s Role in Immunity

Shivam Zaver’s dissertation research in the laboratory of Dr. Joshua Woodward in the Department of Microbiology addresses innate immunity. DNA is ordinarily located in the nucleus of a cell. DNA can be found outside of the nucleus, however, during a bacterial or viral infection. Once detected where it does not belong, DNA stimulates an interferon-mediated immune response, mediated by a cyclic dinucleotide, which functions as a second messenger. How the cyclic dinucleotide crosses the cell membrane had been unknown. Shivam found that the second messenger is taken up by the cell through a folate transporter. Consequently, inflammation can be inhibited by folate. His discovery explains how some anti-inflammatory medications, such as sulfasalazine and methotrexate, achieve their effect and has implications for developing new forms of immunotherapy for cancer and infectious disease.