Seminars

Mucus serves as a protective hydrogel that is vital for epithelial health. Mucins, the principal constituents of mucus, are heavily glycosylated proteins that not only create a physical barrier but also modulate interactions with microbes, promoting commensal colonization while inhibiting pathogenic activity through complex glycan structures. Our work investigates how mucins modulate epithelial cell behavior, particularly in the context of microbial dysbiosis associated with conditions such as bacterial vaginosis.

Malaria remains a critical global health issue, affecting 282 million people and causing 610,000 deaths in 2024. Two WHO-approved malaria vaccines exist, but producing durable antibody (Ab)-mediated protection remains a challenge. Novel malaria vaccines displaying a broader range of epitopes may elicit Abs with wider protective breadth. To understand the Ab response to these novel vaccines, we immunized a humanized mouse model, expressed elicited monoclonal Abs (mAbs), identified mAb epitopes, and tested mAb protective efficacy in vivo.