antibody mediated protective immunity
Antibodies are a critical mediator of protective immunity. We thus focus on a class of lymphocytes known as B cells, some of which differentiate into antibody-secreting plasma cells. Using emerging RNA viruses as model systems we ask questions related to breadth and durability of immune responses using genetically engineered mouse models.
host factors mediating viral pathogenesis
Viruses must utilize host molecules to replicate in their respective hosts. We seek to identify and characterize host molecules which facilitate critical steps within the viral life cycle. Understanding how these steps are executed may be leveraged in the development of antiviral therapeutics.
molecular tool development
Sometimes we have ideas or questions that are unable to be tested due to the lack of appropriate techniques or tools. We are interested in developing novel sequencing-based readouts or synthetic genes to allow functional assessments in parallel or engineer cells with specific goals in mind, respectively.