Ai Ing Lim

Ai Ing Lim

@aiinglim.bsky.social

Immunologist.

196 followers153 following18 posts

Pinned

Ai Ing Lim
@aiinglim.bsky.social

LIMmunity 2nd brew: Motherhood comes with superpower: pathogen protection! 🤰🤱 www.nature.com/articles/s41... We often think moms are immunologically vulnerable during reproduction to tolerate the baby. But I always wondered: why would evolution make such a critical period of life so dangerous?

nature.comEosinophils drive intestinal remodelling and innate defence in reproduction - NatureFrom pregnancy until lactation, eosinophils accumulate in the small intestine where they regulate goblet cell fate and enhance innate defences against enteric pathogens.

Ai Ing Lim reposted

Sing Sing Way
@babiesresearch.bsky.social

Learning immunology from mothers and babies www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... The maternal-fetal dyad can reveal strategies for improving pregnancy outcomes, but also how immunology works applicable to many other physiological contexts @mucosalimmunol.bsky.social @societymucosalimm.bsky.social

sciencedirect.comLearning immunology from mothers and babiesPregnancy is an immunological marvel allowing intimate approximation between genetically discordant tissues of maternal and fetal origin. Shared immun…

Ai Ing Lim reposted

HHMI
@hhmi-science.bsky.social

You asked, we answered — this time for our united #FreemanHrabowski Scholars and #HannaGray Fellows programs. A warm welcome into who's eligible, how the programs connect, and more, from our very own Science Program team members Mary Bonds & Lucy Corcoran. Applications open 11/3! bit.ly/fhs26 🧪

Ai Ing Lim
@aiinglim.bsky.social

Really enjoyed reading this!! Thank you so much for highlighting our work and for the thoughtful, constructive feedback that helped strengthen our study!!

Sing Sing Way@babiesresearch.bsky.social

Protective maternal gut instincts www.nature.com/articles/d41... So thankful to @nature.com for the opportunity to highlight another exciting example of immunology learned from mothers, “protective maternal gut instincts” by @aiinglim.bsky.social @princetonmolbio.bsky.social

nature.comProtective maternal gut instinctsPregnancy poses many challenges, including protecting against infection and increased nutritional demands. Pregnancy-associated gut changes offer some help.
Ai Ing Lim
@aiinglim.bsky.social

LIMmunity 2nd brew: Motherhood comes with superpower: pathogen protection! 🤰🤱 www.nature.com/articles/s41... We often think moms are immunologically vulnerable during reproduction to tolerate the baby. But I always wondered: why would evolution make such a critical period of life so dangerous?

nature.comEosinophils drive intestinal remodelling and innate defence in reproduction - NatureFrom pregnancy until lactation, eosinophils accumulate in the small intestine where they regulate goblet cell fate and enhance innate defences against enteric pathogens.
View full thread
Ai Ing Lim
@aiinglim.bsky.social

LIMmunity 2nd brew: Motherhood comes with superpower: pathogen protection! 🤰🤱 www.nature.com/articles/s41... We often think moms are immunologically vulnerable during reproduction to tolerate the baby. But I always wondered: why would evolution make such a critical period of life so dangerous?

nature.comEosinophils drive intestinal remodelling and innate defence in reproduction - NatureFrom pregnancy until lactation, eosinophils accumulate in the small intestine where they regulate goblet cell fate and enhance innate defences against enteric pathogens.
View full thread
Ai Ing Lim
@aiinglim.bsky.social

This work represents a completely new direction for LIMmunity! Grateful to all LIMmunity members for trusting me and brewing this story together, and to our collaborators, especially Amanda, Yuri, and Pedro, for helping us uncover the beautiful complexity of the gut microenvironment!

Ai Ing Lim
@aiinglim.bsky.social

LIMmunity 2nd brew: Motherhood comes with superpower: pathogen protection! 🤰🤱 www.nature.com/articles/s41... We often think moms are immunologically vulnerable during reproduction to tolerate the baby. But I always wondered: why would evolution make such a critical period of life so dangerous?

nature.comEosinophils drive intestinal remodelling and innate defence in reproduction - NatureFrom pregnancy until lactation, eosinophils accumulate in the small intestine where they regulate goblet cell fate and enhance innate defences against enteric pathogens.
View full thread
Ai Ing Lim
@aiinglim.bsky.social

We think this is such a clever maternal strategy. 👍 By strengthening barrier defense and minimizing dissemination, mothers may reduce the energetic and physiological cost of fighting infection during this incredibly demanding period of life.

Ai Ing Lim
@aiinglim.bsky.social

Remarkably, this remodeling and enhanced innate defense persist long after reproduction. Throughout evolution, humans and animals in the wild often experienced repeated reproductive cycles. We think this durable protection may provide an evolutionary advantage in pathogen-rich environments.

Ai Ing Lim
@aiinglim.bsky.social

LIMmunity 2nd brew: Motherhood comes with superpower: pathogen protection! 🤰🤱 www.nature.com/articles/s41... We often think moms are immunologically vulnerable during reproduction to tolerate the baby. But I always wondered: why would evolution make such a critical period of life so dangerous?

nature.comEosinophils drive intestinal remodelling and innate defence in reproduction - NatureFrom pregnancy until lactation, eosinophils accumulate in the small intestine where they regulate goblet cell fate and enhance innate defences against enteric pathogens.
View full thread
Ai Ing Lim
@aiinglim.bsky.social

Chenyan, the very first graduate student to join my lab, when the lab was still empty and while I was in the middle of maternity leave, began exploring the maternal gut . What we found surprised us 😲

Ai Ing Lim
@aiinglim.bsky.social

During reproduction, eosinophils accumulate dramatically in the gut and reprogram stem cells toward a goblet cell fate. Together, this remodeling strengthens the mucus barrier, limits pathogen entry, and even when pathogens invade, helps contain infection locally before systemic dissemination!!

Ai Ing Lim
@aiinglim.bsky.social

LIMmunity 2nd brew: Motherhood comes with superpower: pathogen protection! 🤰🤱 www.nature.com/articles/s41... We often think moms are immunologically vulnerable during reproduction to tolerate the baby. But I always wondered: why would evolution make such a critical period of life so dangerous?

nature.comEosinophils drive intestinal remodelling and innate defence in reproduction - NatureFrom pregnancy until lactation, eosinophils accumulate in the small intestine where they regulate goblet cell fate and enhance innate defences against enteric pathogens.
Ai Ing Lim
@aiinglim.bsky.social

During COVID, I realized how little we understand maternal physiology. We study immunity in the blood and placenta, but barely the barrier tissues where infection happens. Mothers were often told what to do “for the baby,” yet I started asking: who studies the mother ⁉️

Ai Ing Lim reposted

Leslie B Vosshall PhD
@leslievosshall.bsky.social

📢🎉@hhmi-science.bsky.social HHMI competition for the next cohorts of #HannaGray Fellows and #FreemanHrabowski Scholars opening 11/3/2026. Senior postdocs and faculty within 7 years of appointment. Up to $10M over 10 yrs, + salary & benefits. Spread the word and consider applying! bit.ly/4vhC0LA

Ai Ing Lim reposted

Princeton MolBio
@princetonmolbio.bsky.social

Lim lab investigates: Helminth worm-infected mice give birth to pups with elevated anti-viral defenses in their lungs, leaving them more resistant to infection by respiratory viruses such as influenza and RSV. What causes these protective effects? molbio.princeton.edu/news/2026/wh...

molbio.princeton.eduWhat is lost is not lostLim lab investigates: Helminth worm-infected mice give birth to pups who have elevated anti-viral defenses in their lungs, leaving them more resistant to infection with respiratory viruses such as inf...
Ai Ing Lim
@aiinglim.bsky.social

We found maternal helminth infection can promote antiviral immunity in offspring 🤱🪱 www.cell.com/cell-host-mi... Don’t worry, we are not suggesting we reinfect everyone with worms! Instead, we identified a microbiota-derived metabolite, Indole-3-propionic acid, that enhances antiviral immunity!

cell.comMaternal helminths rewire the microbiota to promote offspring antiviral immunityFernandes et al. show that maternal helminths, long-standing mammalian partners, confer antiviral immunity to offspring via the microbiota-derived metabolite indole-3-propionic acid (IPA). This work r...
Ai Ing Lim
@aiinglim.bsky.social

This work was led by @kristantunes.bsky.social, a Pew Postdoctoral Fellow and the very first postdoc to join my lab, who has now started her own independent lab at PUCRS in Brazil 🇧🇷! I am so proud and deeply thankful for these past 3 years of building LIMmunity together!

Ai Ing Lim
@aiinglim.bsky.social

Huge thanks to all LIMmunity lab members and collaborators for the collective effort behind this very first story brewing from LIMmunity! And yes, we are hiring! 🧑‍🔬 If you are excited about maternal-offspring immune partnership, please reach out!

Ai Ing Lim reposted

Chrysothemis Brown
@chrysothemisbrown.bsky.social

We are hiring! The Brown Lab is looking for a computational biologist to join our team. If you enjoy working with single-cell and spatial genomics data and want to study how immune cells develop and function, we’d love to hear from you! Apply here: hhmi.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/External/job...

hhmi.wd1.myworkdayjobs.comBioinformatics Specialist I - Brown LabPrimary Work Address: 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10021 Current HHMI Employees, click here to apply via your Workday account. About the Lab The Brown Laboratory studies how the tissue microenviron...

Ai Ing Lim reposted

Tania Wong
@taniawong.bsky.social

🚀 We’re hiring a Postdoc! Seeking expertise in spatial metabolite imaging and/or mass spectrometry to study how host metabolism shapes immune responses. If you're creative, collegial, and excited to push boundaries, we’d love to hear from you. Please share! 🔗 www.nature.com/naturecareer...

nature.comPostdoctoral Research Scientist - Newark, New Jersey (US) job with Dr Tania Wong | 12848863Rutgers is currently seeking a Postdoc Research Scientist to join the Center for Immunity and Inflammation (CII) at the New Jersey Medical School.

Ai Ing Lim reposted

HHMI
@hhmi-science.bsky.social

Calling all rising juniors & seniors: Interested in biological or biomedical research? Applications for our ’26 Summer Undergraduate Research Experience Program are now open! Nine weeks, hands-on research, & mentorship from some of the nation’s top scientists — learn more: bit.ly/CechFellows

bit.lySummer Undergraduate Research Experience | HHMIThe Cech Fellows Program is a paid, nine-week summer research experience empowering the next generation of scientific leaders.

Ai Ing Lim reposted

Kai Mesa
@kaimesa.bsky.social

When Macrophages Disappear, Skin Blood Vessels Age! Check out our new study @nature.com that uncovers how the loss of capillary-associated macrophages with age blocks vessel repair and blood flow, revealing a new cellular trigger of tissue aging. #Aging #Immunology 👇👇 www.nature.com/articles/s41...

nature.comNiche-specific dermal macrophage loss promotes skin capillary ageing - NatureCapillary-associated macrophages are selectively lost over time, contributing to impaired vascular repair and reduced tissue perfusion in older mice.

Ai Ing Lim reposted

Xin Jin
@xinjin.bsky.social

Actively hiring! Video made by Sora-2 but the job post is 100% real. Apply here: hhmi.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Extern...

Scripps Research@scripps.edu

Scripps Research Associate Prof. Xin Jin (@xinjin.bsky.social) has been named one of only 30 @hhmi.org Freeman Hrabowski Scholars, recognized for advancing genomic tools—including in vivo Perturb-seq—to map how genes shape brain circuits and uncover clues to neurological disease and brain health.

scripps.eduScripps Research associate professor named an HHMI Freeman Hrabowski Scholar

Ai Ing Lim reposted

Petter Brodin
@petterbrodin.bsky.social

The American Association of Immunologists AAI meeting will be in Boston, April 15-19, 2026. Come join me and @chrysothemisbrown.bsky.social at this exciting Symposium on Early life immune development. Submit your abstracts by October 15th! immunology2026.aai.org/session/earl...

immunology2026.aai.orgEarly Life Immune Development and Function   - IMMUNOLOGY2026™Time: 8:00 - 11:30 AM Chairs: Chrysothemis C. Brown, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Ctr., USA Petter Brodin, Imperial Col. London and Karolinska Inst., GBR, SWE

Ai Ing Lim reposted

Igor Brodsky
@brodskyigorlab.bsky.social

Abstract submissions are open for the Midwinter Conference of Immunologists @midwinter-immun.bsky.social!! www.midwconfimmunol.org The Early Bird Registration deadline is Nov 14, 2025. There will be lots of Selected Abstract talks so submit an abstract to be considered!

midwconfimmunol.orgMidwinter Conference of ImmunologistsThe Midwinter Conference of Immunologists was founded in 1961 by a small group of Immunologists, among them Drs. Dan Campbell and Ray Owen. The goal of the Midwinter Conference is to provide a forum w...
Ai Ing Lim
@aiinglim.bsky.social

LIMmunity is growing! 🤰🤱👶 We are looking for curious & driven postdocs to join us at @princetonmolbio.bsky.social & HHMI to explore the fascinating world of maternal-offspring immune partnerships! Come be part of our collaborative team! hhmi.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Extern...

hhmi.wd1.myworkdayjobs.comPostdoctoral Scientist- Lim LabPrimary Work Address: Dept of Molecular Biology, Princeton, NJ, 08544 Current HHMI Employees, click here to apply via your Workday account. The Lim Lab at Princeton University is seeking an energetic,...
Ai Ing Lim
@aiinglim.bsky.social

@kristantunes.bsky.social from our lab will talk about how maternal helminth infection provide immune education to offspring at #AAI2025, check it out!

Krist Antunes Fernandes@kristantunes.bsky.social

Excited to be speaking at #IMMUNOLOGY2025 in Hawaii 🌺🏝️ Join me Monday at 7:00 AM in the Block Symposium Regulation of Mucosal Immunity to learn more about Maternal Immune Education with a twist of microbiota. 😉 Let’s talk immunology over ☕️! See you there! #AAI2025

Ai Ing Lim reposted

King Lab at McGill University
@kinglabmcgill.bsky.social

I am very excited to share our article on IFNg, stroma and disease tolerance during intestinal helminth infection published today in Cell. This work was lead by the amazing @susanwestfall.bsky.social and supported by many international collaborators. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

sciencedirect.comA type 1 immune-stromal cell network mediates disease tolerance against intestinal infectionType 1 immunity mediates host defense through pathogen elimination, but whether this pathway also impacts tissue function is unknown. Here, we demonst…

Ai Ing Lim reposted

Princeton MolBio
@princetonmolbio.bsky.social

Immunologists and neuroscientists collaborate to show experience of cold temps leaves a lasting impression on the brain. In Nature paper today by labs of Princeton's Lydia Lynch @lydialynch.bsky.social and Trinity College Dubin's Tomás Ryan @tjryan.bsky.social. molbio.princeton.edu/news/2025/co...

molbio.princeton.eduCold comforts: animals form memories about temperatureThe experience of cold temperatures leaves a lasting impression on the brain, according to a new study published April 23, 2035 in the journal Nature. The study was conducted through a collaborative e...

You are up to date.