<figure class="image image-style-align-left"><img src="https://ceirr-public-website-static-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/Walter_200x200_636fe39eca.png" alt="Walter Orenstein, MD"><figcaption>Walter Orenstein, MD, announces his retirement.</figcaption></figure>Dr.&nbsp;Walter Orenstein, MD, has decided to retire from Emory University effective September 1st, 2023. Walt has been with Emory since 1994 with appointments in both the School of Medicine and&nbsp;the Rollins School of&nbsp;Public Health. In addition to one primary and three joint professor appointments, Walt has been involved with the CEIRR/CEIRS program since 2007.&nbsp;Additionally, Walt&nbsp;is the current Director of the Emory Program for Vaccine Policy and Development and Associate Director of the Emory Vaccine Center.&nbsp;On April 1st,&nbsp;Dr. Anice Lowen, PhD will become Principal Investigator of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ceirr-network.org/centers/emory-ceirr" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Emory-CEIRR</a>, and Walt will transition to the Co-PI until his September retirement.

Recognition

Emory-CEIRR

Walt Orenstein will retire from Emory University on September 1st, 2023. Anice Lowen will become PI of Emory-CEIRR on April 1st, and Walt will become Co-PI.

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Announcing Dr. Walter Orenstein's Retirement

Dr. Florian Krammer, Center for Research on Influenza Pathogenesis and Transmission (<a href="https://www.ceirr-network.org/centers/cript" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CRIPT</a>), and Dr. Alessandro Sette, St. Jude Center of Excellence for Influenza Research and Response (<a href="https://www.ceirr-network.org/centers/sjceirr" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">SJCEIRR</a>), were recently elected to the American Academy of Microbiology’s class of 2023.&nbsp;<figure class="image image-style-align-left"><img src="https://ceirr-public-website-static-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/Sette_Krammer_thumbnail_400x400_685a3f1fb0.png"><figcaption>Dr. Florian Krammer (left) and Dr. Alessandro Sette (right) elected to the American Academy of Microbiology Class of 2023.</figcaption></figure>Dr. Krammer is a Professor of Vaccinology in the Department of Microbiology and Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-based Medicines at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. His CEIRR research is focused on improving the understanding of broad immune responses that are directed toward RNA virus surface proteins to inform future vaccine and therapeutics development. Additionally, Dr. Krammer is the Principal Investigator of the Sinai-Emory Multi-Institutional Collaborative Influenza Vaccine Innovation Center (<a href="https://www.niaidcivics.org/sinai-emory-multi-institutional-civic/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">SEM-CIVIC</a>), where his lab conducts research aimed at developing influenza vaccines that confer longer-lasting protection against a broad range of influenza viruses.Dr. Sette is a professor within the Center for Autoimmunity and Inflammation and Center for Infectious Disease and Vaccine Research at the La Jolla Institute for Immunology. His research defines and tests the structures recognized by the immune system, known as epitopes, to characterize what constitutes effective and ineffective immune responses to a variety of diseases. Dr. Sette’s work with CEIRR focuses on assessing T cell and memory B cell profiles against SARS-CoV-2 variants. His laboratory’s most recent work has centered around investigating the immune evasive properties of emergent and biodefense-related diseases, with the goal of informing the development of novel therapeutics. Dr. Sette has also played an integral role in the development of the national Immune Epitope Database (<a href="https://www.iedb.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">IEDB</a>), a freely available comprehensive multi-species epitope catalog and bioinformatics tool suite.&nbsp;As one of the world’s largest scientific societies, the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) has elected more than 2,600 researchers over the past five decades to its leadership group, the American Academy of Microbiology (AAM). Nominations are conducted each year by current AAM members and nominees are reviewed by the Academy Subcommittee on Elections and Governors. The academy’s mission is to recognize individuals for their accomplishments in and service to the field of microbial sciences as well as their dedication to high ethical standards. Congratulations to both Dr. Krammer and Dr. Sette!For a full list of the 2023 American Academy of Microbiology fellows click&nbsp;<a href="https://asm.org/Press-Releases/2023/February/65-Fellows-Elected-into-the-American-Academy-of-Mi" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.

Awards

CRIPT

SJCEIRR

Two CEIRR researchers, Florian Krammer and Alessandro Sette, among 65 fellows elected to the American Academy of Microbiology for 2023.

Headshots of Dr. Florian Krammer (left) and Dr. Alessandro Sette (right)

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Florian Krammer and Alessandro Sette elected to the American Academy of Microbiology Class of 2023

<figure class="image image-style-align-left"><img src="https://ceirr-public-website-static-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/Universal_Flu_Vaccine_400x225_a549ff265c.jpg" alt="Graphical depiction of 20 HA mRNA-lipid nanoparticle vaccine. Image credit: NIH Director's Blog."><figcaption>Graphical depiction of 20 HA mRNA-lipid nanoparticle vaccine. Image credit: NIH Director's Blog.</figcaption></figure>Influenza vaccines are given each year to protect against specific strains circulating in humans predicted to be the most prevalent during flu season. These vaccines are a critical public health tool to fight seasonal influenza but are unlikely to provide protection against viruses emerging from animals with pandemic potential. Researchers funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) <a href="https://www.ceirr-network.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Centers of Excellence for Influenza Research and Response (CEIRR)</a> and <a href="https://www.niaidcivics.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Collaborative Influenza Vaccine Innovation Centers (CIVICs)</a> developed an experimental multivalent influenza vaccine that extends immune responses beyond the narrow protection that seasonal vaccines provide.&nbsp;The study led by <a href="https://www.med.upenn.edu/apps/faculty/index.php/g20001880/p27057" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Dr. Scott Hensley's</a> lab at the <a href="https://www.upenn.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">University of Pennsylvania</a>, and in collaboration with <a href="https://med.emory.edu/directory/profile/?u=SLAKDAW" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Dr. Seema Lakdawala’s</a> lab, both part of <a href="https://www.ceirr-network.org/centers/penn-ceirr" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Penn-CEIRR</a>, assessed the efficacy of an mRNA-based vaccine targeting the viral surface glycoprotein hemagglutinin. The authors built upon recent advances in mRNA technology used in current COVID-19 vaccines to deliver more antigens at once than what is feasible through other approaches. Twenty unique mRNAs encoding hemagglutinins from the 18 known influenza A subtypes and two influenza B lineages were encapsulated in a lipid nanoparticle system and administered to mice and ferrets. The multivalent mRNA vaccine was highly effective at stimulating cross-reactive and subtype-specific antibodies in both mice and ferrets and protected animals from severe illness following infection with strains both like and unlike those used to produce the vaccine.&nbsp;By incorporating 20 diverse antigens into a single vaccine, investigators elicited broad protection absent of the viral mismatch limitations currently hindering seasonal flu vaccines. This work advances development of a “universal” influenza vaccine to defend against seasonal and pandemic flu. To read more about this study, check out the <a href="https://directorsblog.nih.gov/2022/12/06/experimental-mrna-vaccine-may-protect-against-all-20-influenza-virus-subtypes/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">NIH Director’s Blog</a> and <a href="https://www.pennmedicine.org/news/news-releases/2022/november/penn-develops-mrna-flu-vaccine" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Penn Medicine News</a>. To read the full article, <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abm0271?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&amp;rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&amp;rfr_dat=cr_pub%20%200pubmed" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">click here</a>.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abm0271" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Arevalo, CP et al. (2022) A multivalent nucleoside-modified mRNA vaccine against all known influenza virus subtypes. Science. 378: 899-904.</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;

Publication Commentary

Influenza

Penn-CEIRR

Researchers from Penn-CEIRR developed an mRNA-lipid nanoparticle vaccine incorporating hemagglutinin antigens from 20 different influenza subtypes

Graphical depiction of 20 HA mRNA-lipid nanoparticle vaccine. Image credit: NIH Director's Blog.

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Multivalent influenza vaccine shows promise for pandemic prevention

Researchers, including <a href="https://www.stjude.org/directory/s/stacey-schultz-cherry.html">Dr. Stacey Schultz-Cherry</a>, <a href="https://www.stjude.org/directory/t/paul-thomas.html">Dr. Paul Thomas</a>, and <a href="https://www.stjude.org/research/labs/mcgargill-lab.html">Dr. Maureen McGargill</a>, from the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Centers of Excellence for Influenza Research and Response (<a href="https://www.ceirr-network.org/centers/sjceirr">SJCEIRR</a>) addressed the important question of whether prior infection with coronaviruses, like the ones that cause common colds in humans, affects the level of disease caused by SARS-CoV-2. It is now well-established that SARS-CoV-2 infection causes diverse disease outcomes ranging from no symptoms to severe respiratory complications that can result in hospitalization and/or death. Although certain health conditions are known to increase risk of severe disease, the complete array of COVID-19 associated risk factors remains unknown.&nbsp;<figure class="image image-style-align-right"><img src="https://ceirr-public-website-static-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/CEIRR_Commentary_Lin_et_al_2021_image_31cdf109aa.jpg" alt="On left, blue SARS-CoV-2 virus with spike proteins (orange) protruding from surface. Behind &amp; to right, scanning electron micrograph of cells (green) that are infected by Omicron strain (blue). Image not to scale &amp; artificially colored."><figcaption>Scanning electron micrograph of cells (green) that are infected by SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain (blue). Image not to scale and artificially colored. Image credit: NIAID Flickr.</figcaption></figure>As of December 2022, more than 99 million <a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#datatracker-home">COVID-19 cases</a> and over one million deaths have been reported in the United States. To better understand the disease dynamics and susceptibility of the general population to SARS-CoV-2, it is vital to understand what variables contribute to disease severity. Currently, there are four common cold (non-SARS-CoV-2) coronaviruses in wide circulation across the globe that cause mild respiratory symptoms in humans. Dr. McGargill led a research team that investigated whether pre-existing immunity to common cold coronaviruses positively or negatively impacts SARS-CoV-2 immunity or COVID-19 clinical outcomes.&nbsp;Researchers collected a baseline blood sample from a cohort of St. Jude employees, who then underwent weekly nasal swabs to screen for SARS-CoV-2. Those who became infected with SARS-CoV-2 during the study provided post-infection blood samples, while those who did not test positive provided post-vaccination blood samples. Samples were assessed for antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 and the four common cold coronaviruses. The researchers found that nearly all participants had antibodies specific for the common cold coronaviruses. Interestingly, SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with increased antibodies to the common cold viruses but did not provide protection against SARS-CoV-2. Rather, cross-reactive antibody levels correlated with higher SARS-CoV-2 specific antibodies, an indicator of more severe disease. The authors also speculate that pre-existing common cold antibodies may even delay production of SARS-CoV-2 specific antibodies. These findings suggest pre-existing common cold coronavirus antibodies that cross-react with SARS-CoV-2 may negatively impact COVID-19 clinical outcomes. The study provides important insight into the complex and difficult to characterize immune response to a novel virus when pre-existing immunity to a similar but distinct endemic virus is present.&nbsp;<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chom.2021.12.005">Lin, CY et al. (2022) Pre-existing humoral immunity to human common cold coronaviruses negatively impacts the protective SARS-CoV-2 antibody response. Cell Host and Microbe. 30(1): 83-96.e4</a>&nbsp;

SARS-CoV-2

Prior infection with common cold coronaviruses may delay SARS-CoV-2 specific antibody production, leading to worse COVID-19 clinical outcomes.

On left, blue SARS-CoV-2 virus with spike proteins (orange) protruding from surface. Behind & to right, scanning electron micrograph of cells (green) that are infected by Omicron strain (blue). Image not to scale & artificially colored.

CEIRR

Meetings

Keystone Symposia Inflammation in the Lung: Friend or Foe in Viral Infections?

Immunology2023

Bio-IT World Conference and Expo

CIS 2023 Annual Meeting

Viruses & Cells GRC Conference: The Biology of Viral Infection

ASM Microbe 2023

American Society for Virology (ASV) 2023

The Microbial Pathogenesis Conference: Mechanisms of Infectious Disease

2023 ASM Clinical Virology Symposium

The Ninth ESWI Influenza Conference

Infectious Disease Week

Keystone Symposia COVID-19 and the World Response: Are we prepared for the next pandemic?

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