Group | Viral Immunology

The Viral Immunology group studies human immune responses to viral infection and vaccination using a combination of functional antibody and B cell receptor repertoire analyses. The goal of our research is to characterize immune responses in African compared to U.S. and European populations, with a current focus on responses to SARS-CoV-2 and other human coronaviruses as well as to COVID-19 vaccination. We also develop viral antigen capture assays based on human and mouse monoclonal antibodies that we generate by antigen-specific single B cell sorting and hybridoma technology. Assays will be used to study the epidemiology of viral infections in African populations.

In contrast to soaring COVID-19 case numbers during pandemic waves in the Americas and Europe, large parts of Africa have reported low numbers of severe SARS-CoV-2 infections and COVID-19-related deaths. Hypotheses to explain this observation include differential innate and adaptive immune mechanisms of protection in different populations.

Much has been learnt about immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 in U.S. and European COVID-19 patients, contributing to the development of effective vaccines. Similar studies in African populations with different immunological backgrounds are required to define shared and distinct, potentially beneficial features of immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 and to investigate the nature and longevity of infection- and vaccine-induced immunity to adequately tailor required public health interventions to different populations.