IMMUNOLOGY2026™ Conference Recordings For Attendees-Engineered Nanobodies to Direct and Visualize Durable Tolerance

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Video Summary

Nova presented a nanobody-based strategy to induce antigen-specific immune tolerance by targeting MHC class II–positive antigen-presenting cells. Her team designed trimodal nanobody constructs carrying a disease-specific peptide antigen and a pH-sensitive dexamethasone payload. After binding APCs, the construct is internalized, peptide is reloaded onto MHC II, and dexamethasone promotes a tolerogenic state with reduced inflammatory signaling and increased regulatory T cells. In mouse models of multiple sclerosis and type 1 diabetes, a single dose produced rapid recovery, strong prophylactic and therapeutic protection, and long-lasting tolerance lasting months, while preserving unrelated immune responses such as vaccination. The lab is also using nanobodies for imaging and immune-cell tracking to study mechanisms and refine future therapies.

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Date April 16, 2026 1:15 PM - 1:30 PM

Room 253

Session Therapeutic Modulation of T Cells for Autoimmune Diseases

Speaker Novalia Pishesha

Track Therapeutic Approaches to Autoimmunity (THER)

Year 2026

Keywords

nanobody-based immunotherapy

antigen-specific immune tolerance

MHC class II antigen-presenting cells

dexamethasone payload

multiple sclerosis and type 1 diabetes

April 16, 2026 1:15 PM - 1:30 PM

253

Therapeutic Modulation of T Cells for Autoimmune Diseases

Novalia Pishesha

Therapeutic Approaches to Autoimmunity (THER)

2026