Isolation of anti-SARS Co-V-2 broadly neutralizing antibodies
We analyze COVID-19 convalescent donors in the search for antibodies that will inhibit the virus and serve as guides for vaccine development.
Interdisciplinary basic and translational research
We combine molecular immunology with genetics, protein engineering and data analysis to understand how our immune system reacts to diseases, and develop new antibody-based drugs and vaccines.
Isolation of anti-Tuberculosis antibodies
Recent studies suggest that antibodies have function during Tuberculosis infection and disease. Our goal is to isolate and characterize anti-Tuberculosis neutralizing antibodies and use them as potential drugs, diagnostics and guides for vaccines
Lab photo 2020
“We believe that cultural, professional and gender diversity contributes to generation of ideas, innovative and different perspectives, and allows us to mutually benefit from learning together”.
Welcome
Our laboratory is interested in understanding the molecular basis of human antibody responses to diseases.
Antibodies are key components of most licensed vaccines; nevertheless many aspects of how antibodies recognize and neutralize their targets are still unknown. Pathogen-specific B cells are stimulated after antigen encounter and subsequently undergo affinity maturation and selection in distinct anatomical structures called germinal centres. After several rounds of affinity maturation and selection some B cell clones acquire high affinity for the antigen, and sometimes the ability to neutralize it. To characterise the human responses to diseases we use single B cell sorting and cloning methods to sequence the monoclonal antibodies directly from infected patients and isolate the antibodies they produce during different stages of the disease.
Our ultimate goal is to exploit our knowledge of the human antibody responses for the development of new diagnostic tools, immune-treatments and for the discovery of new vaccine targets.
Ongoing projects
Isolation of broadly neutralizing antibodies against SARS Co-V-2
Antibody responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Neutralizing anti-HIV-1 antibodies