Dr. Jan Dobeš

The Early Career Research prize in Immunology is awarded to Jan Dobeš, PhD, of the Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, Charles University (Prague, Czechia). Nominated by the Czech Immunological Society, Jan has been recognised for his postdoctoral work on the role of RORγt+ extrathymic AIRE-expressing cells (eTACs) in immune regulation, demonstrating  that these cells, which share features with both conventional antigen presenting cells (APCs) and innate lymphoid cells type 3 (ILC3s), are essential for mediating adaptive Th17 responses to Candida albicans, linking Aire expression to the control of mucosal candidiasis.

 Dr. Jan Dobeš
Principal Investigator, Laboratory of Microbial Immunology
Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia

Dr. Jan Dobeš is a Czech immunologist whose research focuses on the dynamic interactions between the immune system and microbes. He earned his Ph.D. at the Institute of Molecular Genetics in Prague, Czechia where he studied immune tolerance and intestinal autoimmunity in the laboratory of Dominik Filipp. He continued his training at the Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot in Israel, working with Jakub Abramson on RORγt+ extrathymic AIRE-expressing cells (eTACs) in immune regulation, demonstrating that these cells, which share features with both conventional antigen presenting cells (APCs) and innate lymphoid cells type 3 (ILC3s), are essential for mediating adaptive Th17 responses to Candida albicans, linking Aire expression to the control of mucosal candidiasis.

In 2021, Dr. Dobeš established the Laboratory of Microbial Immunology at Charles University. His lab investigates how non-classical MHCII-expressing cells, such as epithelial cells and RORγt+ APCs, participate in antigen presentation and influence immune responses. By exploring these processes in both healthy and disease states the team aims to uncover new strategies for modulating immune responses.

Current research projects focus on understanding how MHCII expression is regulated in intestinal epithelial cells and RORγt+ APCs, how these cells acquire and present antigens, and how they affect T-cell function in the context of microbial antigens.

Dr. Dobeš is also actively involved in teaching immunology to undergraduate and graduate students and serves on the Immunology Study Board at Charles University.

Lab Website: https://web.natur.cuni.cz/cellbiol/dobeslab