Bunnik lab

The Bunnik lab identified antibodies that bind and inhibit most PfEMP1 CIDRα1 variants, thereby preventing infected erythrocytes from binding to human endothelial receptor EPCR. Parasite binding to EPCR is believed to be the major pathogenic pathway in severe malaria.

B cells were isolated from blood donated by people in Uganda, Africa and cultured in the lab. After screening culture supernatant for IgG production, antibody variable regions were amplified and cloned into expression constructs, which allowed for unlimited production of these CIDRα1-specific antibodies.

In collaboration with several other labs around the globe, we identified the key residues of the broadly inhibitory antibodies interacting with Plasmodium falciparum protein PfEMP1 CIDRα1. 

The results of this study were published in Nature in November of 2024.