Research Groups
Cellular Immunology
Research Interests and Description
Research Interests
The role of antibody responses in protection against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and P. falciparum malariaDescription of Research
HIV and Plasmodia induce striking antibody and T cell responses in humans. Nonetheless, much of this response is not protective to the host, hampering the design of an effective vaccine. Our research interests cover the role of antibody responses in protection against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) and P. falciparum malaria. We focus on three major topics within this area.
1) The development of human monoclonal antibodies that broadly neutralize various strains of HIV-1. Evidence supports neutralising antibody as an important mechanism for protection by a future HIV vaccine. However, there is not enough information about the targeting of neutralising antibodies that are effective against a broad range of HIV isolates (“broadly neutralising antibodies”) to successfully inform vaccine design. To date, most of the research activity isolating neutralising monoclonal antibodies has focused on antibodies from clade B-infected donors, in spite of the fact that approximately half of the HIV infections worldwide are clade C infections including most infections in Southern Africa.
2) Cloning and characterising HIV-1 subtype G envelope genes and their sensitivity to antibody-mediated neutralisation. This project targets currently under-studied subtype G viruses, which infect about 1.5 million people, mostly in West Africa. This project will identify potential rational drug design targets and identify high priority vaccine targets for both HIV and malaria.
3) The development of human monoclonal antibodies against P. falciparum proteins forced to the surface of the infected red blood cell. Understanding the targets of natural immunity to pregnancy-related malaria in this project will lead to important vaccine antigen candidates for this disease.
Recent Publications
Veiga, J., Feinerman, O., Dorfman, J.R., Germain, R.N., Altan-Bonnet, G. 2008. Variability and robustness in T cell activation from regulated heterogeneity in protein levels. Science 321, 1081-1084 PubMed link
Oleinikov, A.V., Francis, S.E., Dorfman, J.R., Rossnagle, E., Balcaitis, S., Getz, T., Avril, M., Gose, S., Smith, J.D., Fried, M., Duffy, P.E. 2008. VAR2CSA domains expressed in E.coli induce cross-reactive antibodies to native protein. J Infect Dis 197, 1119-1123 PubMed link
Dorfman, J.R., Bejon, P., Ndungu, F.M., Langhorne, J., Kortok, M.M., Lowe, B.S., Mwangi, T.W., Williams, T.N., Marsh, K. 2005. B cell memory to three P. falciparum blood stage antigens in a malaria-endemic area. J Infect Dis 191, 1623-1630 PubMed link
