walls
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Senior Scientist
Senior Scientist
BioNTech SE · Full-time
BioNTech SE · Full-time
Oct 2022 - Present · 6 mos
Oct 2022 - Present · 6 mos
Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
Pandemic response to SARS-CoV-2 understanding, vaccines, and therapeutics.
https://www.ipd.uw.edu/2020/10/design-of-an-ultrapotent-covid-19-vaccine-candidate/
Highlighted publications:
1. Walls, A.C.*, Fiala, B.*, Schäfer, A., Wrenn, S., Pham, M.N., Murphy, M., Tse, L.V., Shehata, L., O'Connor, M.A., Chen, C., Navarro, M.J., Miranda, M.C., Pettie, D., Ravichandran, R., Kraft, J.C., Ogohara, C., Palser, A., Chalk, S., Lee, E.C., Kepl, E., Chow, C.M., Sydeman, C., Hodge, E.A., Brown, B., Fuller, J.T., Dinnon, K.H., Gralinski, L.E., Leist, S.R., Gully, K.L., Lewis, T.B., Guttman, M., Chu, H.Y., Lee, K.K., Fuller, D.H., Baric, R.S., Kellam, P., Carter, L., Pepper, M., Sheahan, T.P., Veesler, D., King, N.P. Elicitation of potent neutralizing antibody responses by designed protein nanoparticle vaccines for SARS-CoV-2. Cell. 2020.
2. Cao, L. Goreshnik, I., Coventry, B., Case, J.B., Miller, L., Chen, R.E., Carther, L., Walls, A.C., Park, Y.J., Strauch, E., Stewart, L., Diamond, M.S., Veesler, D., Baker, D. De novo design of picomolar SARS-CoV-2 miniprotein inhibitors. Science. 2020.
3. Pinto, D.*, Park, Y.J.*, Beltramello, M.*, Walls, A.C.*, Tortorici, M.A., Bianchi, S., Jaconi, S., Cilap, K., Zatta, F., De Marco, A., Peter, A., Guarino, B., Spreafico, R., Cameroni, E., Case, J.B., Chen, R.E., Havenar-Daughton, C., Snell, G., Taleni, A., Virgin, H.W., Lanzavecchia, A., Diamond, M.S., Fink, K., Veesler, D., Corti, D. Cross-neutralization of SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV2 by a human monoclonal antibody. Nature. 2020.Pandemic response to SARS-CoV-2 understanding, vaccines, and therapeutics. https://www.ipd.uw.edu/2020/10/design-of-an-ultrapotent-covid-19-vaccine-candidate/ Highlighted publications: 1. Walls, A.C.*, Fiala, B.*, Schäfer, A., Wrenn, S., Pham, M.N., Murphy, M., Tse, L.V., Shehata, L., O'Connor, M.A., Chen, C., Navarro, M.J., Miranda, M.C., Pettie, D., Ravichandran, R., Kraft, J.C., Ogohara, C., Palser, A., Chalk, S., Lee, E.C., Kepl, E., Chow, C.M., Sydeman, C., Hodge, E.A., Brown, B., Fuller, J.T., Dinnon, K.H., Gralinski, L.E., Leist, S.R., Gully, K.L., Lewis, T.B., Guttman, M., Chu, H.Y., Lee, K.K., Fuller, D.H., Baric, R.S., Kellam, P., Carter, L., Pepper, M., Sheahan, T.P., Veesler, D., King, N.P. Elicitation of potent neutralizing antibody responses by designed protein nanoparticle vaccines for SARS-CoV-2. Cell. 2020. 2. Cao, L. Goreshnik, I., Coventry, B., Case, J.B., Miller, L., Chen, R.E., Carther, L., Walls, A.C., Park, Y.J., Strauch, E., Stewart, L., Diamond, M.S., Veesler, D., Baker, D. De novo design of picomolar SARS-CoV-2 miniprotein inhibitors. Science. 2020. 3. Pinto, D.*, Park, Y.J.*, Beltramello, M.*, Walls, A.C.*, Tortorici, M.A., Bianchi, S., Jaconi, S., Cilap, K., Zatta, F., De Marco, A., Peter, A., Guarino, B., Spreafico, R., Cameroni, E., Case, J.B., Chen, R.E., Havenar-Daughton, C., Snell, G., Taleni, A., Virgin, H.W., Lanzavecchia, A., Diamond, M.S., Fink, K., Veesler, D., Corti, D. Cross-neutralization of SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV2 by a human monoclonal antibody. Nature. 2020.
Pandemic response to SARS-CoV-2 understanding, vaccines, and therapeutics.
Publication:
Walls, A.C.*, Park, Y.J.*, Tortorici, M.A., Wells, A., McGuire, A.T., Veesler, D. Structure, function and antigenicity of the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein. Cell. 2020.
Pandemic response to SARS-CoV-2 understanding, vaccines, and therapeutics. Publication: Walls, A.C.*, Park, Y.J.*, Tortorici, M.A., Wells, A., McGuire, A.T., Veesler, D. Structure, function and antigenicity of the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein. Cell. 2020.
Utilizing single particle cryo-electron microscopy to elucidate viral and bacterial infection mechanisms
Highlighted publications from graduate school:
1. Park, Y.J.*, Walls, A.C.*, Wang, Z.*, Sauer, M.M., Li, W., Tortorici, M.A., Bosch, B.J., DiMaio, F., Veesler, D. Structures of MERS-CoV spike glycoprotein in complex with sialoside attachment receptors. Nature Structural Molecular Biology. 2019.
2. Walls, A.C.*, Xiong, X.*, Park, Y.J., Tortorici, M.A., Snijder, J., Quispe, J., Cameroni, E., Gopal, R., Dai, M., Lanzavecchia, A., Zambon, M., Rey, F.A., Corti, D., Veesler, D. Unexpected receptor functional mimicry elucidates activation of coronavirus fusion. Cell. 2019.
3. Walls, A.C., Tortorici, M.A., Snijder, J., Xiong, X., Bosch, B.J., Rey, F.A., Veesler, D. Tectonic conformational changes of a coronavirus spike glycoprotein promote membrane fusion. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science. 2017.
4. Walls, A.C., Tortorici, M.A., Frenz, B., Snijder, J., Li, W., Rey, F.A., DiMaio, F., Bosch, B.J., Veesler, D. Glycan shield and epitope masking of a coronavirus spike protein observed by cryo-electron microscopy. Nature Structural Molecular Biology. 2016.
5. Walls, A.C.*, Tortorici, M.A.*, Bosch, B.J.*, Frenz, B., Rottier, P.J.M., DiMaio, F., Rey, F.A., Veesler, D. Cryo-electron microscopy structure of a coronavirus spike glycoprotein trimer. Nature. 2016.Utilizing single particle cryo-electron microscopy to elucidate viral and bacterial infection mechanisms Highlighted publications from graduate school: 1. Park, Y.J.*, Walls, A.C.*, Wang, Z.*, Sauer, M.M., Li, W., Tortorici, M.A., Bosch, B.J., DiMaio, F., Veesler, D. Structures of MERS-CoV spike glycoprotein in complex with sialoside attachment receptors. Nature Structural Molecular Biology. 2019. 2. Walls, A.C.*, Xiong, X.*, Park, Y.J., Tortorici, M.A., Snijder, J., Quispe, J., Cameroni, E., Gopal, R., Dai, M., Lanzavecchia, A., Zambon, M., Rey, F.A., Corti, D., Veesler, D. Unexpected receptor functional mimicry elucidates activation of coronavirus fusion. Cell. 2019. 3. Walls, A.C., Tortorici, M.A., Snijder, J., Xiong, X., Bosch, B.J., Rey, F.A., Veesler, D. Tectonic conformational changes of a coronavirus spike glycoprotein promote membrane fusion. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science. 2017. 4. Walls, A.C., Tortorici, M.A., Frenz, B., Snijder, J., Li, W., Rey, F.A., DiMaio, F., Bosch, B.J., Veesler, D. Glycan shield and epitope masking of a coronavirus spike protein observed by cryo-electron microscopy. Nature Structural Molecular Biology. 2016. 5. Walls, A.C.*, Tortorici, M.A.*, Bosch, B.J.*, Frenz, B., Rottier, P.J.M., DiMaio, F., Rey, F.A., Veesler, D. Cryo-electron microscopy structure of a coronavirus spike glycoprotein trimer. Nature. 2016.
Undergraduate Biochemical Research: Gierasch Laboratory
Undergraduate Biochemical Research: Gierasch Laboratory
University of Massachusetts Amherst
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Sep 2012 - May 2014 · 1 yr 9 mos
Sep 2012 - May 2014 · 1 yr 9 mos
Amherst, MA
Amherst, MA
Completed an independent, honors thesis 'utilizing mutually exclusive folding to determine protein thermodynamic stability in E. coli cellular lysate.' I have presented my work in many poster sessions, including the Massachusetts undergraduate research conference. I was awarded a research grant to fund this project. I was granted an American Institute of Chemistry student award for my dedication to research.
Completed an independent, honors thesis 'utilizing mutually exclusive folding to determine protein thermodynamic stability in E. coli cellular lysate.' I have presented my work in many poster sessions, including the Massachusetts undergraduate research conference. I was awarded a research grant to fund this project. I was granted an American Institute of Chemistry student award for my dedication to research.
Undergraduate Biochemical Research: Munson Laboratory
Undergraduate Biochemical Research: Munson Laboratory
University of Massachusetts Medical School
University of Massachusetts Medical School
May 2012 - Feb 2013 · 10 mos
May 2012 - Feb 2013 · 10 mos
Worcester, MA
Worcester, MA
In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, individual proteins of a multi-protein complex were affinity tagged, confirmed through western blot, and used for optimization and purification experiments.
Publications:
1. Heider, M.R., Gu, M., Duffy, C.M., Mirza, A.M., Marcotte, L.L., Walls A.C., Farral, N., Hakhverdyan, Z., Field, M.C., Rout, M.P., Frost, A., Munson, M. Nature Structural Molecular Biology. 2016. DOI: 10.1038/nsmb.3146
Lexi (Alexandra) C. Walls
Lexi (Alexandra) C. Walls
[HTML] from nature.com
Cryo-electron microscopy structure of a coronavirus spike glycoprotein trimer
Authors
Alexandra C Walls, M Alejandra Tortorici, Berend-Jan Bosch, Brandon Frenz, Peter JM Rottier, Frank DiMaio, Félix A Rey, David Veesler
Publication date
2016/3/3
Journal
Nature
Volume
531
Issue
7592
Pages
114-117
Publisher
Nature Publishing Group UK
Description
The tremendous pandemic potential of coronaviruses was demonstrated twice in the past few decades by two global outbreaks of deadly pneumonia. Entry of coronaviruses into cells is mediated by the transmembrane spike glycoprotein S, which forms a trimer carrying receptor-binding and membrane fusion functions. S also contains the principal antigenic determinants and is the target of neutralizing antibodies. Here we present the structure of a mouse coronavirus S trimer ectodomain determined at 4.0 Å resolution by single particle cryo-electron microscopy. It reveals the metastable pre-fusion architecture of S and highlights key interactions stabilizing it. The structure shares a common core with paramyxovirus F proteins,, implicating mechanistic similarities and an evolutionary connection between these viral fusion proteins. The accessibility of the highly conserved fusion peptide at the periphery of the trimer …
Total citations
Cited by 484
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Scholar articles
Cryo-electron microscopy structure of a coronavirus spike glycoprotein trimer
AC Walls, MA Tortorici, BJ Bosch, B Frenz, PJM Rottier… - Nature, 2016
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