Featured Publications
Live imaging of SARS-CoV-2 infection in mice reveals that neutralizing antibodies require Fc function for optimal efficacy
Ullah I, Prévost J, Ladinsky MS, Stone H, Lu M, Anand SP, Beaudoin-Bussières G, Symmes K, Benlarbi M, Ding S, Gasser R, Fink C, Chen Y, Tauzin A, Goyette G, Bourassa C, Medjahed H, Mack M, Chung K, Wilen CB, Dekaban GA, Dikeakos JD, Bruce EA, Kaufmann DE, Stamatatos L, McGuire AT, Richard J, Pazgier M, Bjorkman PJ, Mothes W, Finzi A, Kumar P, Uchil PD. Live imaging of SARS-CoV-2 infection in mice reveals that neutralizing antibodies require Fc function for optimal efficacy. Immunity 2021, 54: 2143-2158.e15. PMID: 34453881, PMCID: PMC8372518, DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2021.08.015.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCOVID-19 convalescent subjectsSARS-CoV-2 infectionBioluminescence imagingK18-hACE2 miceLive bioluminescence imagingNatural killer cellsFc effector functionsSARS-CoV-2Convalescent subjectsKiller cellsPotent NAbsImmune protectionInflammatory responseEffector functionsNasal cavityNaB treatmentOptimal efficacyFc functionDepletion studiesMiceNAbsCOVID-19Direct neutralizationInfectionAntibodies
2024
Beta Spike-Presenting SARS-CoV-2 Virus-like Particle Vaccine Confers Broad Protection against Other VOCs in Mice
Ullah I, Symmes K, Keita K, Zhu L, Grunst M, Li W, Mothes W, Kumar P, Uchil P. Beta Spike-Presenting SARS-CoV-2 Virus-like Particle Vaccine Confers Broad Protection against Other VOCs in Mice. Vaccines 2024, 12: 1007. PMID: 39340037, PMCID: PMC11435481, DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12091007.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchImmune responseVirus-like particlesBeta spikesCross-protective immune responsesSARS-CoV-2 immunitySARS-CoV-2Effective immune responseEffective humoral immune responseHumoral immune responseAncestral spikeT cellsVaccination regimenSARS-CoV-2 virus-like particlesVaccine platformMouse modelVariant spike proteinsOmicron spikeBeta variantDisease burdenNon-infectiousReduce virus spreadImmunityVariant spikesFusion glycoproteinSpike proteinProof-of-concept studies with a computationally designed Mpro inhibitor as a synergistic combination regimen alternative to Paxlovid
Papini C, Ullah I, Ranjan A, Zhang S, Wu Q, Spasov K, Zhang C, Mothes W, Crawford J, Lindenbach B, Uchil P, Kumar P, Jorgensen W, Anderson K. Proof-of-concept studies with a computationally designed Mpro inhibitor as a synergistic combination regimen alternative to Paxlovid. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2024, 121: e2320713121. PMID: 38621119, PMCID: PMC11046628, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2320713121.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDirect-acting antiviralsSARS-CoV-2Lack of off-target effectsIn vitro pharmacological profileTreatment of patientsDevelopment of severe symptomsPharmacological propertiesDrug-drug interactionsSARS-CoV-2 infectionProof-of-concept studySARS-CoV-2 M<sup>pro</sup>.Combination regimenImmunocompromised patientsLead compoundsSARS-CoV-2 main proteaseOral doseActive drugTreat infectionsPharmacological profileSARS-CoV-2 MPotential preclinical candidateOff-target effectsPatientsComplete recoveryCapsule formulationBioluminescence imaging reveals enhanced SARS-CoV-2 clearance in mice with combinatorial regimens
Ullah I, Escudie F, Scandale I, Gilani Z, Gendron-Lepage G, Gaudette F, Mowbray C, Fraisse L, Bazin R, Finzi A, Mothes W, Kumar P, Chatelain E, Uchil P. Bioluminescence imaging reveals enhanced SARS-CoV-2 clearance in mice with combinatorial regimens. IScience 2024, 27: 109049. PMID: 38361624, PMCID: PMC10867665, DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109049.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchDirect-acting antiviralsEfficacy of direct-acting antiviralsVirus clearanceSARS-CoV-2Bioluminescence imagingSuppressed viral loadK18-hACE2 miceRapid virus clearanceNeutralizing antibody treatmentSARS-CoV-2 clearanceEvaluate therapeutic efficacyCOVID-19 convalescent plasmaMonotherapy regimensCombinatorial regimensAntibody treatmentViral loadSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2Acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2Lung pathologyPandemic potentialRespiratory syndrome coronavirus 2Therapeutic arsenalConvalescent plasmaTreatment efficacySyndrome coronavirus 2
2023
Immunogenicity and Pre-Clinical Efficacy of an OMV-Based SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine
Grandi A, Tomasi M, Ullah I, Bertelli C, Vanzo T, Accordini S, Gagliardi A, Zanella I, Benedet M, Corbellari R, Di Lascio G, Tamburini S, Caproni E, Croia L, Ravà M, Fumagalli V, Di Lucia P, Marotta D, Sala E, Iannacone M, Kumar P, Mothes W, Uchil P, Cherepanov P, Bolognesi M, Pizzato M, Grandi G. Immunogenicity and Pre-Clinical Efficacy of an OMV-Based SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine. Vaccines 2023, 11: 1546. PMID: 37896949, PMCID: PMC10610814, DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11101546.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchSARS-CoV-2 vaccinesSARS-CoV-2Outer membrane vesiclesImmune responseSARS-CoV-2 elicitsSARS-CoV-2 variantsPotent immune responsesEffective immune responsePre-clinical efficacyDiverse SARS-CoV-2 variantsInherent adjuvanticityVaccinated miceIntranasal challengeVaccine dosesNeutralization titresEffective vaccineVirus infectionVaccination campaignHeterologous antigensVaccineVirus replicationSpike proteinInfectivity assaysTitresPotential needPLSCR1 is a cell-autonomous defence factor against SARS-CoV-2 infection
Xu D, Jiang W, Wu L, Gaudet R, Park E, Su M, Cheppali S, Cheemarla N, Kumar P, Uchil P, Grover J, Foxman E, Brown C, Stansfeld P, Bewersdorf J, Mothes W, Karatekin E, Wilen C, MacMicking J. PLSCR1 is a cell-autonomous defence factor against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Nature 2023, 619: 819-827. PMID: 37438530, PMCID: PMC10371867, DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06322-y.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsC-terminal β-barrel domainSpike-mediated fusionCell-autonomous defenseLarge-scale exome sequencingΒ-barrel domainGenome-wide CRISPRSARS-CoV-2 infectionHost cell cytosolScramblase activityPhospholipid scramblaseLive SARS-CoV-2 infectionHuman lung epitheliumPLSCR1SARS-CoV-2 USASingle-molecule switchingSARS-CoV-2 variantsExome sequencingHuman populationRestriction factorsViral RNANew SARS-CoV-2 variantsSARS-CoV-2Robust activityLung epitheliumDefense factorsVaccinia Virus Strain MVA Expressing a Prefusion-Stabilized SARS-CoV-2 Spike Glycoprotein Induces Robust Protection and Prevents Brain Infection in Mouse and Hamster Models
Lorenzo M, Marín-López A, Chiem K, Jimenez-Cabello L, Ullah I, Utrilla-Trigo S, Calvo-Pinilla E, Lorenzo G, Moreno S, Ye C, Park J, Matía A, Brun A, Sánchez-Puig J, Nogales A, Mothes W, Uchil P, Kumar P, Ortego J, Fikrig E, Martinez-Sobrido L, Blasco R. Vaccinia Virus Strain MVA Expressing a Prefusion-Stabilized SARS-CoV-2 Spike Glycoprotein Induces Robust Protection and Prevents Brain Infection in Mouse and Hamster Models. Vaccines 2023, 11: 1006. PMID: 37243110, PMCID: PMC10220993, DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11051006.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchVaccine candidatesStrong T cell responsesAngiotensin-converting enzyme 2Prime-boost regimensT cell responsesFull-length SARS-CoV-2 spike proteinEffective COVID-19 vaccineGolden Syrian hamstersSARS-CoV-2 spike glycoproteinSARS-CoV-2 spike proteinCOVID-19 vaccineRecombinant MVA vaccinesSARS-CoV-2S proteinBrain infectionMVA vaccinesCell-cell fusionAmino acid substitutionsVaccine platformHamster modelEnzyme 2Recombinant MVAVaccine vectorAnimal modelsRobust immunity
2022
VE607 stabilizes SARS-CoV-2 Spike in the “RBD-up” conformation and inhibits viral entry
Ding S, Ullah I, Gong SY, Grover J, Mohammadi M, Chen Y, Vézina D, Beaudoin-Bussières G, Verma VT, Goyette G, Gaudette F, Richard J, Yang D, Smith AB, Pazgier M, Côté M, Abrams C, Kumar P, Mothes W, Uchil P, Finzi A, Baron C. VE607 stabilizes SARS-CoV-2 Spike in the “RBD-up” conformation and inhibits viral entry. IScience 2022, 25: 104528. PMID: 35677392, PMCID: PMC9164512, DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104528.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchSARS-CoV-2 infectionAuthentic SARS-CoV-2K18-hACE2 miceS-ACE2 interactionsDevelopment of immunotherapySARS-CoV-2 spikeSARS-CoV-2SARS-CoV-1Prophylactic treatmentLow micromolar concentrationsViral replicationACE2 receptorPseudoviral particlesViral entrySpike glycoproteinPotential targetCOVID-19Drug developmentInfectionACE2 interfaceHost cellsMicromolar concentrationsReceptorsTreatmentRBDFc effector cross-reactivity: A hidden arsenal against SARS-CoV-2’s evasive maneuvering
Grunst MW, Uchil PD. Fc effector cross-reactivity: A hidden arsenal against SARS-CoV-2’s evasive maneuvering. Cell Reports Medicine 2022, 3: 100540. PMID: 35233551, PMCID: PMC8823971, DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2022.100540.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchA Fc-enhanced NTD-binding non-neutralizing antibody delays virus spread and synergizes with a nAb to protect mice from lethal SARS-CoV-2 infection
Beaudoin-Bussières G, Chen Y, Ullah I, Prévost J, Tolbert WD, Symmes K, Ding S, Benlarbi M, Gong SY, Tauzin A, Gasser R, Chatterjee D, Vézina D, Goyette G, Richard J, Zhou F, Stamatatos L, McGuire AT, Charest H, Roger M, Pozharski E, Kumar P, Mothes W, Uchil PD, Pazgier M, Finzi A. A Fc-enhanced NTD-binding non-neutralizing antibody delays virus spread and synergizes with a nAb to protect mice from lethal SARS-CoV-2 infection. Cell Reports 2022, 38: 110368. PMID: 35123652, PMCID: PMC8786652, DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110368.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsAntibodies, NeutralizingAntibodies, ViralAntibody-Dependent Cell CytotoxicityCOVID-19COVID-19 SerotherapyDisease Models, AnimalEpitopesHumansImmunization, PassiveImmunoglobulin Fab FragmentsImmunoglobulin Fc FragmentsMiceProtein BindingProtein ConformationSARS-CoV-2Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus
2021
Structural basis and mode of action for two broadly neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 emerging variants of concern
Li W, Chen Y, Prévost J, Ullah I, Lu M, Gong SY, Tauzin A, Gasser R, Vézina D, Anand SP, Goyette G, Chaterjee D, Ding S, Tolbert WD, Grunst MW, Bo Y, Zhang S, Richard J, Zhou F, Huang RK, Esser L, Zeher A, Côté M, Kumar P, Sodroski J, Xia D, Uchil PD, Pazgier M, Finzi A, Mothes W. Structural basis and mode of action for two broadly neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 emerging variants of concern. Cell Reports 2021, 38: 110210. PMID: 34971573, PMCID: PMC8673750, DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.110210.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchVariants of concernProtective immune responseReceptor-binding domainImmune responseImmunogen designSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2Acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2Respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2Syndrome coronavirus 2Mode of actionSARS-CoV-2 spikeSARS-CoV-2Vaccine immunogen designAntibody therapyCoronavirus 2Β-coronavirusMonoclonal antibodiesS1 subunitS2 subunitAntibodiesTherapyVariantsA single dose of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine BNT162b2 elicits Fc-mediated antibody effector functions and T cell responses
Tauzin A, Nayrac M, Benlarbi M, Gong SY, Gasser R, Beaudoin-Bussières G, Brassard N, Laumaea A, Vézina D, Prévost J, Anand SP, Bourassa C, Gendron-Lepage G, Medjahed H, Goyette G, Niessl J, Tastet O, Gokool L, Morrisseau C, Arlotto P, Stamatatos L, McGuire AT, Larochelle C, Uchil P, Lu M, Mothes W, De Serres G, Moreira S, Roger M, Richard J, Martel-Laferrière V, Duerr R, Tremblay C, Kaufmann DE, Finzi A. A single dose of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine BNT162b2 elicits Fc-mediated antibody effector functions and T cell responses. Cell Host & Microbe 2021, 29: 1137-1150.e6. PMID: 34133950, PMCID: PMC8175625, DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2021.06.001.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSingle doseEffector functionsCell responsesSARS-CoV-2-naive individualsSARS-CoV-2 vaccinesBNT162b2 mRNA vaccineSARS-CoV-2Public health authoritiesAntibody effector functionsStandard regimenAntibody immunityT helperVaccine efficacyMRNA vaccinesCellular CD4Health authoritiesDoseDosesPotential roleNaive individualsVaccine scarcityVaccineWeeksEfficacyResponse