Research Group Antiviral Antibody-Omics
Antibodies are key components of the adaptive immune system and are critical for defending against infectious diseases. In our research group, we strive to gain a better understanding of the mechanisms of antibody-mediated protection, with the ultimate objective of creating novel and more effective vaccine and treatment strategies for infectious diseases.
When an individual is infected with a pathogen, B cells start to secrete massive amounts of antibodies with a unique specificity that can recognize the pathogen. The variable Fab region of the antibody molecule mediates antigen-binding, which can prevent viral entry or neutralize pathogenic toxins.
The immune system's capacity to respond rapidly and effectively to the pathogen - in addition to binding and neutralization - depends on the ability of the polyclonal antibody swarm to rapidly leverage and deploy opsonophagocytic clearance, drive cytotoxicity, and to stimulate the release of pro/anti-inflammatory mediators via Fc:Fc-receptor interaction on innate immune cells. These Fc mediated mechanism depend on a range of factors, including the expression patterns of activating and inhibitory Fc receptors on various immune effector cells, the selection of subclass and isotypes, as well as the accessibility of the Fc part and post-translational Fc modification (such as glycosylation) of the antigen-specific immune complexes.
Our translational research projects aim to broaden our knowledge of the role of antibody effector functions in infectious diseases, characterize the underlying mechanisms of Fc:Fc receptor interactions, and identify new approaches to improve antibody-based therapies in the future.
