Our research characterized the humoral and cellular immune responses elicited by the RTS,S/AS01E malaria vaccine, analyzing their association with protection using techniques such as Luminex and flow cytometry. I also evaluated these immune responses in relation to various epidemiological factors that influence immunogenicity and protection. Additionally, I assessed the immunophenotypic changes linked to chronic malaria exposure and T-cell exhaustion. During the pandemic, my work extended to processing PBMC and plasma samples from study volunteers exposed to SARS-CoV-2 and following mRNA vaccination, to be analyzed by Luminex and flow cytometry.

Our research evaluated immunotherapeutic reagents for treating and preventing viral infections using both in vitro immunological assays and in vivo mouse models of infectious diseases. I conducted ELISA, MSD assays, ELISpot, and flow cytometry to characterize immune responses following immunization, therapeutic delivery, and viral infections. Additionally, I performed intraperitoneal (IP), intravenous (IV), and subcutaneous (SC) injections, blood collection, tissue harvesting, and cell culture.

We developed a preclinical subunit malaria vaccine formulation delivered dermally to target Plasmodium falciparum sporozoites. To analyze the immune response elicited by vaccine formulations comprising synthetic peptides and TLR agonists, we used reporter and knockout mice, identifying cytokine biomarkers during the innate immune response. My work involved immunizing mice via various routes, collecting blood, and harvesting skin tissue, lymph nodes, spleens, and livers. We defined immune cell populations and responses to dermal vaccine delivery within the skin, draining lymph nodes, and spleen through ELISA, ELISpot, protein microarray, and immunohistochemistry. Humoral immunity was assessed using ELISA to determine antibody kinetics, isotypes, and subclasses in immune sera. Furthermore, we tested the functional antibody inhibition of parasite invasion of human hepatoma cells in vitro and evaluated T cell responses using ELISpot, flow cytometry, cytometric bead assays, and protein microarrays. We challenged immunized mice with infected mosquitoes, extracted RNA from livers, and performed RT-qPCR to quantify parasite levels. Throughout this work, I managed BSL2 lab operations, designed experiments, and led and trained research staff and students.

We investigated the immunogenicity of a P. falciparum circumsporozoite protein conjugated to a TLR5 agonist vaccine, delivered intranasally versus subcutaneously. My work involved immunizing mice via various routes, collecting blood, and harvesting nasopharynx-associated lymphoid tissue (NALT), spleens, and livers. Immune cell populations and responses to intranasal and subcutaneous vaccine delivery were defined by ELISA, ELISpot, flow cytometry, cytometric bead array (CBA), and confocal microscopy. Humoral immunity was assessed using ELISA to determine antibody kinetics, isotypes, and IgG subclasses in immune sera. We tested the functional antibody inhibition of parasite invasion of human hepatoma cells in vitro and evaluated T cell responses using ELISpot and CBA. Immunized mice were challenged with infected mosquitoes, and RNA was extracted from livers to perform RT-qPCR and quantify parasite levels. Additionally, we produced hybridoma cell lines and purified monoclonal antibodies against malaria parasite epitopes, screening and characterizing these antibodies using ELISA and Western blot. I trained research staff and students, helped maintain lab operations, and conducted research in a BSL2 lab environment.

We evaluated the effect of cytokines against porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). I produced hybridomas and purified monoclonal antibodies, characterizing their specificity, isotype, and subclass using ELISA. To produce swine interferon beta (swIFNb), I conducted in vitro assays by infecting HEK293 cells with Ad5-swIFNb. The evaluation of anti-swIFNb antibodies and swIFNb itself was performed using SDS-PAGE, Western blot, and immunoprecipitation techniques. We demonstrated the protective effects of swIFNb on swine alveolar macrophages and MARC-145 cells against PRRSV. I helped maintain lab organization and research was performed in a BSL2 setting.

I conducted ELISA to detect the stress response protein metallothionein. Additionally, I performed terminal surgeries on murine models to extract lymphoid tissues for further analysis. I helped maintain lab organization and records.