IMMUNOLOGY2025™ Conference Recordings-Hitting a moving target: Next-generation therapies to combat SARS-CoV-2 evolution

Hitting a moving target: Next-generation therapies to combat SARS-CoV-2 evolution - Christopher Barnes

Video Transcription

Video Summary

Akiko Iwasaki opened the AAI Aspire Award Symposium by explaining that the award recognizes outstanding early-career immunologists and by introducing the first speaker, Dr. Christopher O’Barnes of Stanford. O’Barnes described how his lab uses cryo-electron microscopy and structural biology to study SARS-CoV-2 spike protein interactions and guide next-generation therapies. He reviewed work identifying conserved “cold spots” on spike that are less likely to mutate, enabling discovery of broadly neutralizing antibodies from vaccinated or convalescent donors. His team also designed bispecific antibody therapeutics that combine a conserved NTD-binding arm with an RBD-binding arm to restore neutralization against evolving variants like Omicron sublineages. These engineered molecules protected mice from infection and showed reduced escape potential. He concluded by emphasizing that structural and bioinformatic approaches can help create flexible antivirals and vaccines not only for coronaviruses but potentially for influenza and other emerging pathogens.

Keywords

AAI Aspire Award Symposium

Akiko Iwasaki

Christopher O’Barnes

cryo-electron microscopy

SARS-CoV-2 spike protein

bispecific antibodies