Karla Viramontes, Ph.D.

Email

Primary Email: [email protected]

Phone/Fax

Primary Phone: 619-594-3030

Building/Location

Geology Mathematics Computer Science - 323 A
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA 92182
Mail Code: 1017

Bio

I am an educator and immunologist with a Ph.D. in Immunology from the University of California, Irvine, where my research focused on identifying therapeutic targets for T cells in chronic viral infection and cancer. My scholarly work includes leading and publishing multiple research projects, securing NIH training fellowships, and mentoring students in experimental design, scientific writing, and research communication. After completing my Ph.D., I worked as a scientist at a pharmaceutical company where I assessed the immune response and phenotyped a variety of immune cells in response to a novel drug.

In parallel with my research, I am deeply committed to mentoring and advising students. During my doctoral training, I conducted instructional and advising work with UCI’s Minority Science Program, where I mentored and supported students from underrepresented backgrounds in academic and professional development, including scientific communication, research skill-building, and preparation for graduate and professional school pathways. I currently serve as the Pre-Health Professional Lead Advisor for HPAO at San Diego State University, where I guide students through academic planning, professional school preparation, and health career pathways while leading comprehensive advising initiatives. Across teaching, research, and advising roles, my work centers on equity-minded mentorship and creating inclusive pathways for student success in the biological and health sciences.

Education

Ph.D. – Immunology  (2024)                                                           University of California, Irvine (UCI). Irvine, California. USA

B.S. – Microbiology (2017)                                                             University of California, San Diego (UCSD). La Jolla, California. USA

Awards & Honors

• UCI Graduate Honors Gala: Howard A. Schneiderman Fellowship Award 2024
• The American Association of Immunologists Trainee Abstract Award 2024
• The American Association of Immunologists Minority Scientist Travel Award 2024
• Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) Award 2024
• UCI Graduate Honors Gala: Simin Aminari Graduate Award 2023
• American Association of Immunologists (AAI) Trainee Poster Award 2023
• Cell Symposia: Hallmarks of Cancer Travel Award 2022
• Midwinter Conference of Immunologists, Ray Owen Poster Presentation Award 2022
• NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program Honorable Mention Award 2021

Office Hours

Mon 8:00am-4:30pm
Tue 8:00am-4:30pm
Wed 8:00am-4:30pm
Thu 8:00am-4:30pm
Fri 8:00am-4:30pm

Publications

• Viramontes KM, Thone M, DeRogatis J, Neubert E, Henriquez M, DeLaTorre J & Tinoco R. (2025). Prion protein modulation of virus-specific T cell differentiation and function during acute viral infection. ImmunoHorizons.
• Viramontes KM, Thone M, DeLaTorre J, Neubert E, DeRogatis J, Garcia C, Henriquez M, & Tinoco R. (2025). Contrasting Roles of PSGL-1 and PD-1 in Regulating T Cell Exhaustion and Function During Chronic Viral Infection. Journal of Virology.
• Viramontes KM, Neubert EN, DeRogatis JM, & Tinoco R. (2022). PD-1 immune checkpoint blockade and PSGL-1 inhibition synergize to reinvigorate exhausted T cells. Frontiers in Immunology.
• Wang YT, Branche E, Xie J, McMillan RE, Ana-Sosa-Batiz F, Lu HH, Li QH, Clark AE, Valls Cuevas JM, Viramontes KM, Garretson AF, Dos Santos Alves RP, Heinz S, Benner C, Carlin AF, Shresta S. (2025). Zika but not Dengue virus infection limits NF-κB activity in human monocyte-derived dendritic cells and suppresses their ability to activate T cells. Nature Communications.
• Neubert EN, DeRogatis JM, Lewis SA, Viramontes KM, Ortega P, Henriquez M, Buisson R, Messaoudi I, Tinoco R. (2023). HMGB2 Regulates the Differentiation and Stemness of Exhausted CD8+ T Cells During Chronic Viral Infection and Cancer. Nature Communications.
• DeRogatis JM, Neubert EN, Viramontes KM, Henriquez ML, Nicholas D, Tinoco R. (2023). Cell-intrinsic CD38 expression sustains exhausted CD8+ T cells by regulating their survival and metabolism during chronic viral infection. Journal of Virology.
• Branch E, Wang YT, Viramontes KM, Valls Cuevas JM, Xie J, Ana-Sosa-Batiz F, Shafee N, Duttke SH, McMillan RE, Clark AE, Nguyen MN, Garretson AF, Crames JJ, Spann NJ, Zhu Z, Rich JN, Spector DH, Benner C, Shresta S, Carlin AF. (2022). SREBP2-dependent lipid gene transcription enhances the infection of human dendritic cells by Zika virus. Nature Communications.
• Regla-Nava JA, Wang YT, Fontes-Garfias CR, Liu Y, Syed T, Susantono M, Gonzalez A, Viramontes KM, Verma SK, Kim K, Landeras-Bueno S, Huang CT, Prigozhin DM, Gleeson JG, Terskikh AV, Shi PY, Shresta S. (2022). A Zika virus mutation enhances transmission potential and confers escape from protective dengue virus immunity. Cell Reports.
• DeRogatis JM, Viramontes KM, Neubert EN, Henriquez ML, Guerrero-Juarez CF, & Tinoco R. (2022). Targeting the PSGL-1 Immune Checkpoint Promotes Immunity to PD-1-Resistant Melanoma. Cancer Immunology Research.
• Pinto AK, Hassert M, Han X, Barker D, Carnelley T, Branche E, Steffen TL, Stone ET, Geerling E, Viramontes KM, Nykiforuk C, Toth D, Shresta S, Kodihalli S, Brien JD. (2021). The Ability of Zika virus Intravenous Immunoglobulin to Protect From or Enhance Zika Virus Disease. Frontiers in Immunology.
• DeRogatis JM, Viramontes KM, Neubert EN, Tinoco R. (2021). PSGL-1 Immune Checkpoint Inhibition for CD4+ T Cell Cancer Immunotherapy. Frontiers in Immunology.
• Branche E, Simon AY, Sheets N, Kim K, Barker D, Nguyen AT, Sahota H, Young MP, Salgado R, Mamidi A, Viramontes KM, Carnelley T, Qiu H, Elong Ngono A, Regla-Nava JA, Susantono MX, Valls Cuevas JM, Kennedy K, Kodihalli S, Shresta S. (2019). Human Polyclonal Antibodies prevent Lethal Zika Virus Infection in Mice. Scientific Reports.
• Regla-Nava JA, Viramontes KM, Vozdolska T, Huynh AT, Villani T, Gardner G, Johnson M, Ferro PJ, Shresta S, Kim K. (2019). Detection of Zika Virus RNA in Mouse Breast Milk. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases.
• Fowler AM, Tang WW, Young MP, Mamidi A, Viramontes KM, McCauley MD, Carlin AF, Schooley R, Swanstrom J, Plante J, Baric RS, Govero J, Diamond M, & Shresta S. (2018). Maternally Acquired Zika Antibodies Enhance Dengue Disease Severity in Mice. Cell Host & Microbe.
• Carlin AF, Vizcarra EA, Branche E, Viramontes KM, Ley K, Heinz S, Benner C, and Shresta S, Glass CK. (2018). Deconvolution of pro- and anti-viral genomic responses in Zika virus-infected and bystander macrophages. PNAS.
• Regla-Nava JA, Elong Ngono A, Viramontes KM, Huynh AT, Wang YT, Nguyen AT, Salgado R, Mamidi A, Kim K, Diamond MS, Shresta S. (2018). Cross-Protection by Dengue Virus-Elicited CD8+ T Cells Against Zika Virus Vertical Transmission. Nature Communications.
• Branche E, Tang WW, Viramontes KM, Young MP, Sheets N, Joo Y, Nguyen AT, Shresta S. (2018). Synergism Between the Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Sunitinib and Anti-TNF Antibody Protects Against Lethal Dengue Infection. Antiviral Research.