PathogenAR Module - Influenza, A Universal Vaccine

The Influenza: A Universal Vaccine module is part of the Pathogens in Augmented Reality (PathogenAR) mobile app. Vaccines for seasonal influenza provide the best protection from this disease, but current vaccines provide incomplete defense and must be renewed each year due to mutations in the flu virus and the prevalence of different strains. In this module, users explore the creation of universal vaccines against flu by researchers from the Vaccine Research Center (VRC), a unit of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Below is a list of resources to support this module.

Models in NIH 3D Print Exchange

Read more about the NIH 3D Print Exchange

Protein Data Bank (PDB) Resources

NIAID Resources

Featured Researchers

Barney Graham

Dr. Graham is an immunologist, virologist, and clinical trials physician whose primary interests are viral pathogenesis, immunity, and vaccine development. While working with NIAID at the Vaccine Research Center, his work focused on HIV, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and emerging viral diseases such as SARS-CoV-2. He retired from his position at NIAID in 2021, and has since taken an advisory role at the Morehouse School of Medicine.

Learn more about Dr. Graham

Jeffrey Boyington

Dr. Boyington is a staff scientist in Dr. John Mascola's laboratory at the Vaccine Research Center. With over 30 years of experience as a structural biologist, his primary research interests are in using protein engineering to design and stabilize novel vaccine immunogens. He designed the HA stem ferritin nanoparticle and has also been involved with vaccine immunogen design for HIV-1, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and malaria.

Masaru Kanekiyo

Dr. Kanekiyo is an immunologist, and virologist whose primary interests are vaccine technologies, immunity, and molecular basis of host pathogen interface. He devoted himself to work towards the development of universal influenza vaccine by technology-driven, multidisciplinary and multidimensional approaches. He serves as a Scientific Lead of the VRC's Influenza program and a co-lead on the mosaic nanoparticle project.

Neil King

Dr. King joined UW's Department of Biochemistry and Institute for Protein Design as a Translational Investigator in 2014 before transitioning to Assistant Professor in July 2017. His group uses and extends computational methods to design functional protein nanomaterials for applications in structure-based vaccine design and targeted delivery of biologics. He was co-lead on the mosaic nanoparticle project.

Learn more about Dr. King

Daniel Ellis

Dan is in the Molecular and Cellular Biology PhD program in Dr King's lab. His research involves various strategies for designing improved influenza vaccines with the ultimate goal of a universal vaccine. He is responsible for the mosaic nanoparticle design and model.

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