Area of research
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging · Immunology
Research interest
Our laboratory is interested in immune recognition of viral pathogens. We are investigating the immune responses against HIV-1 and other viruses, most recently SARS-CoV-2, in order to develop improved therapeutics and/or vaccines. We use X-ray crystallography, electron microscopy, and biochemistry to study pathogen glycoproteins and host immune proteins. Using structural information and alternate antibody architectures, we are engineering antibody-based reagents with increased potency and breadth. We are also investigating the structural correlates of potent antibody-mediated neutralization of HIV-1, SARS-CoV-2, and hepatitis C virus to better understand what leads to naturally-occurring potent neutralizing antibodies. Examples of our research are described below.
Designed mosaic nanoparticles enhance cross-reactive immune responses in mice
Immunometabolic defects of CD8+ T cells disrupt gut barrier integrity in people with HIV
Profiling of HIV-1 elite neutralizer cohort reveals a CD4bs bnAb for HIV-1 prevention and therapy
Design and characterization of HIV-1 vaccine candidates to elicit antibodies targeting multiple epitopes
mRNA delivery of mosaic-8 pan-sarbecovirus RBD vaccines elicits distinct antibody epitope signatures
Convergent evolution and targeting of diverse E2 epitopes by human broadly neutralizing antibodies are associated with HCV clearance
Mosaic sarbecovirus nanoparticles elicit cross-reactive responses in pre-vaccinated animals
Author Correction: SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody structures inform therapeutic strategies
Human antibodies in Mexico and Brazil neutralizing tick-borne flaviviruses
Germline-encoded amino acid–binding motifs drive immunodominant public antibody responses
Engineering RNA export for measurement and manipulation of living cells
CD4 binding site immunogens elicit heterologous anti-HIV-1 neutralizing antibodies in transgenic and wild-type animals.
CD4 binding site immunogens elicit heterologous anti–HIV-1 neutralizing antibodies in transgenic and wild-type animals
Viral immunity: Basic mechanisms and therapeutic applications—a Keystone Symposia report
A Protective Role for the Lectin CD169/Siglec-1 During SARS-CoV-2 Infection
A gut-derived metabolite alters brain activity and anxiety behaviour in mice
Mosaic RBD nanoparticles protect against challenge by diverse sarbecoviruses in animal models
Mosaic RBD nanoparticles protect against challenge by diverse sarbecoviruses in animal models.
Analysis of antibodies from HCV elite neutralizers identifies genetic determinants of broad neutralization
Neutralizing antibodies induced in immunized macaques recognize the CD4-binding site on an occluded-open HIV-1 envelope trimer
Neutralizing antibodies induced in immunized macaques recognize the CD4-binding site on an occluded-open HIV-1 envelope trimer.
A naturally arising broad and potent CD4-binding site antibody with low somatic mutation
HIV-1 CD4-binding site germline antibody–Env structures inform vaccine design
Evolution of antibody immunity to SARS-CoV-2
mRNA vaccine-elicited antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 and circulating variants
Mapping mutations to the SARS-CoV-2 RBD that escape binding by different classes of antibodies
Mosaic nanoparticles elicit cross-reactive immune responses to zoonotic coronaviruses in mice.
Affinity maturation of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies confers potency, breadth, and resilience to viral escape mutations
Investigate the origins of COVID-19
Intestinal Host Response to SARS-CoV-2 Infection and COVID-19 Outcomes in Patients With Gastrointestinal Symptoms