2019 Winner: Structure and Binding Kinetics of Monoclonal Antibody 1G1 Support the Inclusion of the Respiratory Syncytial Virus G Protein in Vaccine Development

Project Information
Structure and Binding Kinetics of Monoclonal Antibody 1G1 Support the Inclusion of the Respiratory Syncytial Virus G Protein in Vaccine Development
Physical and Biological Sciences
Chem 195
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of lower respiratory tract disease and is a large cause of death in children around the world. Currently, there are no FDA approved vaccines or antiviral therapies available to prevent or treat RSV disease. Many attempts have been made to produce an RSV vaccine, but all have failed and new approaches will be required to create a vaccine. This work explores how one protein on the surface of RSV particles, the G protein, is targeted by the human immune system. The molecular determinants of how a single antibody, 1G1, binds to the G protein and neutralizes RSV are explored by examining where on the G protein the 1G1 antibody binds and how strongly the two proteins stick together. The goal of this work is to gain knowledge that will be useful for the design of a new RSV vaccine by learning how the immune system fights off the virus.
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Students
  • Joshua Ryan Dillen (Cowell)
Mentors