Vaccine development, Immune responses, DNA Vaccination, HIV-1, Biodefense Agents, Molecular Biology

Description of projects available to graduate students:
Our research focuses on understanding the mechanisms and development of effective vaccinations for influenza (H5N1, novel H1N1, and seasonal influenza), HIV/AIDS and other infectious agents, including bio-defense agents. Vaccination induces protective immunity against a variety of pathogens. These genetic vaccines consist of eukaryotic expression plasmids that are inoculated into target cells and translated into proteins. DNA vaccination effectively induces both humoral and cellular immune responses to immunogens from diverse infectious agents. However, immunizations have been less successful at generating protective immune responses against viruses with high levels of diversity, such as influenza and HIV-1. In order to improve the efficacy of vaccines for viral infections, our laboratory has developed 1) vaccines expressing virus-like particles and 2) DNA expressing the viral envelopes conjugated to a component of the innate immune system, C3d., 3) the development of a novel approaches, including COBRA, to elicit broadly reactive immune responses. The lab focuses on pathogenesis, animal models, vaccines, virology, and immunology.
Students may participate in one of the several different program projects:

1. Virus-like particle vaccines for influenza, HIV, Rift Valley Fever virus, West Nile virus, Dengue virus

2. DNA expressing the viral envelope glycoproteins conjugated to a component of the innate immune system, C3d.

3. Purifying envelope glycoproteins from HIV, Influenza virus, Rift Valley Fever Virus, and flaviviruses for immunization studies.

4. Pathogenesis of high path viral infections in BSL3 conditions.

Techniques graduate student will learn:
Techniques graduate student will learn:
Recombinant DNA cloning, PCR, mutagenesis, hybridization, and sequencing of viral genes, ELISA immunoassays of antibody responses to viral antigens, cytotoxic T cell assays, production of novel recombinant viral antigens in eukaryotic and prokaryotic expression systems, production of synthetic peptide antigens and vaccine immunogens, virus infectivity and neutralization assays in cell culture.