Research Projects

PN ARRA Maizels

Our laboratory is working to develop new high affinity monoclonal antibodies that target West Nile virus.   West Nile virus infections are becoming more frequent in the US, so it is important to develop new strategies for diagnosis and treatment.  Antibody development in our laboratory will take advantage of a novel platform that we have recently engineered.  This platform permits greatly accelerated antibody optimization and evolution of new antibody specificities in cultured cells.  The research we will carry out will identify much-needed antibodies for targeted therapy and diagnosis of West Nile virus infection.

West Nile virus is classified as a member of the flavivirus family.  Other viruses in this family, such as Dengue virus, also pose threats to public health, as emerging natural infections and as potentially deadly biological agents.  There are not good vaccines or specific treatments for flavivirus infection, and diagnostic antibodies do not reliably distinguish among different flaviviruses, making it difficult to identify new infections.  Our research will not only generate new therapeutic antibodies for treatment of West Nile virus infection, but also a provide a paradigm for rapid development of diagnostic and therapeutic antibodies targeted to other flaviviruses.