Virus host coevolution, antibodies, viral glycoproteins, vaccines and emergining diseases.
The McCarthy laboratory studies the co-evolution of viruses and their hosts, using genetic, molecular, biochemical, and structural approaches. Among the proteins that form an enveloped virus, the glycoproteins often evolve most rapidly. They drive cell entry and in doing so profoundly influence viral tropism. Viral glycoproteins evolve to evade host antibody responses, adapt to utilize new receptor molecules and transmit between species. When captured by host genomes, they have been adapted to perform host functions. Their plasticity hinders vaccine development, facilitates viral emergence, and can highlight unique biology. In a sense, they have evolved to evolve.
B cells rearrange their DNA to produce novel B cell receptors. They then evolve these receptors to bind antigens with greater affinity, a process termed affinity maturation, and secrete those receptors as antibodies. B cells receptors, like viruses, have evolved to evolve.
Using the glycoproteins from influenza (hemagglutinin), SARS-CoV-2 (spike) and retroviruses (envelopes) we are currently focused on:
- Understanding how the antibody response to viral glycoproteins evolves
- Determining how immune pressure from antibodies drives viral evolution
- Defining how viral glycoproteins captured in the genome contribute to host evolution
Education
BS, 2008, Biochemistry, Stony Book University
PhD, 2014, Virology, Harvard University
Postdoctoral Training 2014-2020, Harvard Medical School, Advisor: Dr. Stephen C. Harrison
Center for Vaccine Research
9044 BST3
3501 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261
krm@cvr.pitt.edu
412-624-3235
F: 412-624-4440
Website link: https://mccarthylab.org/
