Research Interests

Viral infection is war between virus and host waged at the molecular level. The Chandran Lab seeks to uncover the detailed battle plans for the first phase of this conflict, in which viruses invade host cells to gain access to the cytoplasm, where the resources necessary for constructing new viruses are located.

We study highly pathogenic emerging viruses for which no treatments are currently available. Our current efforts are focused on filoviruses (e.g., Ebola virus and Marburg virus) and hantaviruses (e.g., Sin Nombre virus). Insights into how viruses exploit their hosts yield targets for development of antiviral treatments, and we vigorously explore such opportunities through wide-ranging collaborations.

Check out our research blog below for our key research findings, how they came about, and their implications. Click on the post title to read the paper's abstract and download manuscript PDFs, and on 'Read More' to view the blog entry and post comments. Subscribe to our RSS feed below.

Featured
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever survivors elicit protective non-neutralizing antibodies that target 11 overlapping regions on glycoprotein GP38
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever survivors elicit protective non-neutralizing antibodies that target 11 overlapping regions on glycoprotein GP38

Shin et al, Cell Rep. 2024

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A viral vaccine design harnessing prior BCG immunization confers protection against Ebola virus
A viral vaccine design harnessing prior BCG immunization confers protection against Ebola virus

Ng et al, Front Immunol. 2024

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Fine-tuning spatial-temporal dynamics and surface receptor expression support plasma cell-intrinsic longevity
Fine-tuning spatial-temporal dynamics and surface receptor expression support plasma cell-intrinsic longevity

Jing et al, Elife. 2024

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A VHH single-domain platform enabling discovery and development of monospecific antibodies and modular neutralizing bispecifics against SARS-CoV-2 variants
A VHH single-domain platform enabling discovery and development of monospecific antibodies and modular neutralizing bispecifics against SARS-CoV-2 variants

Yang et al, Antib Ther. 2024

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Design and characterization of protective pan-ebolavirus and pan-filovirus bispecific antibodies
Design and characterization of protective pan-ebolavirus and pan-filovirus bispecific antibodies

Wirchnianski et al, PLoS Pathog. 2024

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Case of Human Orthohantavirus Infection, Michigan, USA, 2021
Case of Human Orthohantavirus Infection, Michigan, USA, 2021

Goodfellow et al, Emerg Infect Dis. 2024

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Broad antibody and T cell responses to Ebola, Sudan, and Bundibugyo ebolaviruses using mono- multivalent adjuvanted glycoprotein vaccines
Broad antibody and T cell responses to Ebola, Sudan, and Bundibugyo ebolaviruses using mono- multivalent adjuvanted glycoprotein vaccines

Felgner et al, Antiviral Res. 2024

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Visualization of Early RNA Replication Kinetics of SARS-CoV-2 by Using Single Molecule RNA-FISH Combined with Immunofluorescence
Visualization of Early RNA Replication Kinetics of SARS-CoV-2 by Using Single Molecule RNA-FISH Combined with Immunofluorescence

Pathak et al, Viruses 2024

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Prefusion-stabilized SARS-CoV-2 S2-only antigen provides protection against SARS-CoV-2 challenge
Prefusion-stabilized SARS-CoV-2 S2-only antigen provides protection against SARS-CoV-2 challenge

Hsieh C-L et al, Nat Commun 2024

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Two point mutations in protocadherin-1 disrupt hantavirus recognition and afford protection against lethal infection
Two point mutations in protocadherin-1 disrupt hantavirus recognition and afford protection against lethal infection

Slough MM et al, Nat Commun 2023

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Structural and mechanistic basis of neutralization by a pan-hantavirus protective antibody
Structural and mechanistic basis of neutralization by a pan-hantavirus protective antibody

Mittler E et al, Science Transl Med 2023

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A Pan-ebolavirus Monoclonal Antibody Cocktail Provides Protection against Ebola and Sudan Viruses
A Pan-ebolavirus Monoclonal Antibody Cocktail Provides Protection against Ebola and Sudan Viruses

Liu G et al, J Infect Dis 2023

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TNF-α Limits Serological Memory by Disrupting the Bone Marrow Niche
TNF-α Limits Serological Memory by Disrupting the Bone Marrow Niche

Aaron T et al, J Immunol 2023

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Cell-impermeable staurosporine analog targets extracellular kinases to inhibit HSV and SARS-CoV-2
Cell-impermeable staurosporine analog targets extracellular kinases to inhibit HSV and SARS-CoV-2

Cheshenko N et al, Commun Biol 2022

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Genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 during the first year of the pandemic in the Bronx enabled clinical and epidemiological inference
Genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 during the first year of the pandemic in the Bronx enabled clinical and epidemiological inference

Fels JM et al, Cold Spring Harb Mol Case Stud 2022

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A Powassan virus domain III nanoparticle immunogen elicits neutralizing and protective antibodies in mice
A Powassan virus domain III nanoparticle immunogen elicits neutralizing and protective antibodies in mice

Malonis RJ et al, PLoS Pathog 2022

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Induction of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies by CoronaVac and BNT162b2 vaccines in naïve and previously infected individuals
Induction of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies by CoronaVac and BNT162b2 vaccines in naïve and previously infected individuals

Muena N et al, EBiomedicine 2022

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Human antibody recognizing a quaternary epitope in the Puumala virus glycoprotein provides broad protection against orthohantaviruses
Human antibody recognizing a quaternary epitope in the Puumala virus glycoprotein provides broad protection against orthohantaviruses

Mittler E et al, Science Transl Med 2022

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Genotype-specific features reduce the susceptibility of South American yellow fever virus strains to vaccine-induced antibodies
Genotype-specific features reduce the susceptibility of South American yellow fever virus strains to vaccine-induced antibodies

Haslwanter D et al, Cell Host Microbe 2022

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Efficacy and Safety of COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma in Hospitalized Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Efficacy and Safety of COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma in Hospitalized Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Ortigoza MB et al, JAMA Internal Med 2022

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Longitudinally monitored immune biomarkers predict the timing of COVID-19 outcomes
Longitudinally monitored immune biomarkers predict the timing of COVID-19 outcomes

Lasso G et al, PLoS Comput Biol 2022

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Structural basis of synergistic neutralization of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus by human antibodies
Structural basis of synergistic neutralization of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus by human antibodies

Mishra AK et al, Science 2022

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Functional convalescent plasma antibodies and pre-infusion titers shape the early severe COVID-19 immune response
Functional convalescent plasma antibodies and pre-infusion titers shape the early severe COVID-19 immune response

Herman JD et al, Nature Communications 2022

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Two Distinct Lysosomal Targeting Strategies Afford Trojan Horse Antibodies With Pan-Filovirus Activity
Two Distinct Lysosomal Targeting Strategies Afford Trojan Horse Antibodies With Pan-Filovirus Activity

Wirchnianski AS et al, Front Immunol 2021

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A Combination of Receptor-Binding Domain and N-Terminal Domain Neutralizing Antibodies Limits the Generation of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Neutralization-Escape Mutants
A Combination of Receptor-Binding Domain and N-Terminal Domain Neutralizing Antibodies Limits the Generation of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Neutralization-Escape Mutants

Haslwanter D & Dieterle ME et al, mBio 2021

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Near-germline human monoclonal antibodies neutralize and protect against multiple arthritogenic alphaviruses
Near-germline human monoclonal antibodies neutralize and protect against multiple arthritogenic alphaviruses

Malonis RJ et al, Proc Natl Acad Sci 2021

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Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Qualitative Immunoglobulin G Assays: The Value of Numeric Reporting
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Qualitative Immunoglobulin G Assays: The Value of Numeric Reporting

Forest SK et al, Arch Pathol Lab Med 2021

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Generation of plasma cells and CD27 - IgD - B cells during hantavirus infection is associated with distinct pathological findings
Generation of plasma cells and CD27 - IgD - B cells during hantavirus infection is associated with distinct pathological findings

Kerkman PF et al, Clin Transl Immunol 2021

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Genetic depletion studies inform receptor usage by virulent hantaviruses in human endothelial cells
Genetic depletion studies inform receptor usage by virulent hantaviruses in human endothelial cells

Dieterle ME et al, eLife 2021

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Protective neutralizing antibodies from human survivors of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever
Protective neutralizing antibodies from human survivors of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever

Fels JM et al, Cell 2021

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