Research
The Fofana Lab seeks to provide a supportive and academic research environment. Our lab integrates vaccine development techniques, immune profiling assays, and next-generation genomic technologies to better understand antibody expression and immune responses to viral聽pathogenesis.
SIV rhesus macaque model of HIV/AIDS
In order to study the interplay between virus and antibody, the Fofana Lab uses the SIV rhesus macaque model of HIV/AIDS. We assess immune response to vaccination or infection by conventional parameters, such as RNA viral load, antibody titer (ELISA), virus neutralization assay, B cell EliSpot, B cell dysfunction/phenotypes (by multiparameter flow cytometry).聽We also use high throughput聽next generation sequencing聽to track the appearance of virus escape variants and to understand the evolution of immunoglobulin genes (IgG). Through phage display, we select viral-specific monoclonal antibodies and use genetic engineering to improve neutralizing potency of promising clones.
Next generation sequencing
We use high throughput聽next generation sequencing聽to track the appearance of virus escape variants and to understand the evolution of immunoglobulin genes (IgG). Through phage display, we select viral-specific monoclonal antibodies and use genetic engineering to improve neutralizing potency of promising clones.