Dr. Isaac Quirós Fernández and Dr. Elana Fertig

T Cell Receptor Repertoire and Immunosenescence Signatures in Older Adults from the Upala-Guatuso-Los Chiles High-Longevity Zone of Costa Rica

Principal Investigators

Dr. Isaac Quirós Fernández, Professor and Researcher, Faculty of Microbiology, UCR

Dr. Elana Fertig, Professor and Director, Institute for Genome Sciences, UMB School of Medicine

This project investigates how the immune system contributes to healthy aging and exceptional longevity in older adults from the Upala-Guatuso-Los Chiles High-Longevity Zone in Costa Rica. Using next-generation sequencing, HLA genotyping, and multiparametric flow cytometry, the study will characterize T cell immune profiles and markers of immunosenescence, comparing them with those of older adults from the Costa Rican Metropolitan Area. The findings will provide the first immunogenomic characterization of a Costa Rican high-longevity population, offering new insights into the mechanisms underlying immune resilience and healthy aging.