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SUMMARY:EPFL BioE Talks SERIES  "Structure-Based Immunogen Design Leading 
 the Way for the Development of Precision Vaccines"
DTSTART:20201012T163000
DTEND:20201012T170000
DTSTAMP:20260405T202008Z
UID:40f0724d15d2d58b9e4bc1d1bf422fbe40888a15d6638848cfd8c22e
CATEGORIES:Conferences - Seminars
DESCRIPTION:Prof. Bruno Correia\, Institute of Bioengineering\, EPFL\, Lau
 sanne (CH)\nWEEKLY EPFL BIOE TALKS SERIES\n\n(note that this talk is numbe
 r two of a double-feature seminar - see details of the first talk here)\n\
 nAbstract:\nDe novo protein design has been successful in expanding the na
 tural protein repertoire. However\, most de novo proteins lack biological 
 function\, presenting a major methodological challenge. In vaccinology\, t
 he induction of precise antibody responses remains a cornerstone for next-
 generation vaccines. Here\, we present a protein design algorithm called T
 opoBuilder\, with which we engineered epitope-focused immunogens displayin
 g complex structural motifs. In both mice and nonhuman primates\, cocktail
 s of three de novo-designed immunogens induced robust neutralizing respons
 es against the respiratory syncytial virus. Furthermore\, the immunogens r
 efocused preexisting antibody responses toward defined neutralization epit
 opes. Overall\, our design approach opens the possibility of targeting spe
 cific epitopes for the development of vaccines and therapeutic antibodies 
 and\, more generally\, will be applicable to the design of de novo protein
 s displaying complex functional motifs.\n\nBio:\nThroughout my PhD and pos
 tdoctoral studies I was trained in the United States of America (Universit
 y of Washington and The Scripps Research Institute). Very early in my scie
 ntific career I found out my fascination about protein structure and funct
 ion. My PhD studies evolved in the direction of immunogen design and vacci
 ne engineering which sparked my interest in the many needs and opportuniti
 es in vaccinology and translational research. My efforts resulted in an en
 lightening piece of work where for the first time\, computationally design
 ed immunogens elicited potent neutralizing antibodies. During my postdocto
 ral studies I joined a chemical biology laboratory at the Scripps Research
  Institute. In this stage I developed novel chemoproteomics methods for th
 e identification of protein-small molecule interaction sites in complex pr
 oteomes. In March 2015\, I joined the École Polytechnique Fédérale de L
 ausanne (EPFL) – Switzerland as a tenure track assistant professor. The 
 focus of my research group is to develop computational tools for protein d
 esign with particular emphasis in applying these strategies to immunoengin
 eering (e.g. vaccine and cancer immunotherapy). The activities in my labor
 atory focus on computational design methods development and experimental c
 haracterization of the designed proteins. Our laboratory has been awarded 
 with 2 prestigious research grants from the European Research Council. Las
 tly\, I have been awarded the prize for best teacher of Life sciences in 2
 019.\n\n\nZoom link (with registration) for attending remotely: https://go
 .epfl.ch/EPFLBioETalks\n\n\nIMPORTANT NOTICE: due to restrictions resultin
 g from the ongoing Covid-19 situation\, this seminar can be followed in th
 e room by at most 23 people\, who must wear a face mask at all times.
LOCATION:SV 1717 https://plan.epfl.ch/?room==SV%201717
STATUS:CONFIRMED
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