Virus Glycoprotein Trafficking Lab

Evolution of coronavirus protein trafficking 

The newly synthesized coronavirus proteins traverse organelles and membranes to travel to the progeny assembly site in ER-Golgi intermediate compartment. Coronavirus proteins travel within the infected cells by co-opting and repurposing existing cellular highways and signals that evolved to transport cellular cargo between organelles. We investigate the atomic-level mechanisms by which coronaviruses co-opt these cellular highways and how viral trafficking strategies evolve in the face of selection pressure from the host trafficking machinery and competition from endogenous clients. The overarching goal is to use this fundamental information to develop small molecule therapeutics that disrupt coronavirus protein trafficking, and thus inhibit propagation of coronavirus infections. 

Intra-cellular trafficking of coronavirus genetic vaccines

The COVID-19 pandemic brought spike genetic vaccines from bench to bedside in a remarkably short period of time. The success of these vaccines depends on the correct biosynthesis of the spike protein and export to the cell surface where they are displayed to the immune system. We investigate the atomic basis of this trafficking, and the myriad of structural transitions that the spike protein undergoes in its journey from the inside of cells to the cell surface. Our overarching goal is to determine how genetic differences in the trafficking machinery in distinct human populations control the biogenesis and export of the spike protein and to use this fundamental information to improve the immunogenicity of spike-based genetic vaccines.