PhD Thesis Proposal: Steven Ionov

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Meeting ID: 945 4395 7097
Passcode: 283328

"Evaluating Antibody Repertoires After COVID-19 Vaccination: Impact of immune alterations in individuals with cystic fibrosis and those with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection"

Abstract

The proposed thesis examines how immune system alterations, such as in individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF) or those with a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection, influence serum antibody responses following COVID-19 vaccination. The research aims to evaluate key characteristics of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S)-specific antibody repertoire, including overall repertoire diversity, preferential regional targeting, and the clonal distribution of S-reactive antibodies. Additionally, the work will assess the binding and neutralizing characteristics of individual abundant serum antibodies under these altered immune conditions. Serum repertoires will be deconvoluted and individual clonotypes characterized through an integrated approach combining high-resolution serum proteomics with next-generation B cell receptor (BCR) sequencing. The overarching goal is to provide a comprehensive characterization of SARS-CoV-2-specific serum repertoires in the vulnerable CF population, while also delineating the effects of prior infection on the vaccine response in non-CF individuals.

Thesis Committee

• Jiwon Lee (chair)
• Margaret Ackerman
• Jennifer Bomberger

Contact

For more information, contact Thayer Registrar at thayer.registrar@dartmouth.edu.