The rockefeller university

Event Details

Type

Monday Lecture Series

Speaker(s)

Theodora Hatziioannou, Ph.D., Research Associate Professor, Laboratory of Retrovirology, The Rockefeller University

Speaker bio(s)

Virus adaptation to a new species requires the acquisition of resistance to innate and adaptive host defenses. Understanding the molecular mechanisms driving this adaptation has led us to insights into the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants and allowed us to manipulate HIV-1 and generate improved animal models for AIDS. Our studies highlight the remarkable ability of viruses to mutate and evade selective pressures and focus on the development of escape-proof interventions. One such area is the potential of HIV-1 evasion from broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAb) currently in clinical development. Our studies reveal that the genetic barrier to bnAb escape is generally low, but we can identify combinations of bnAbs that minimize the development of resistance. An alternative approach to raise the barrier to escape is to target cellular receptors that are not subject to constant adaptation and are often shared among viruses. We are developing nanobodies that bind to receptors and can both directly block virus entry and selectively induce an antiviral state in specific target cell populations. Collectively, our work enables the translation of basic discoveries to treatment and prevention strategies against viral diseases.

A native of Rhodes, Greece, Dr. Theodora Hatziioannou obtained her undergraduate degree from the University of Bristol, UK, her Master’s degree from Imperial College London, and a Ph.D. from the Claude Bernard Universite Lyon, France. Following a postdoc at Columbia University, she joined the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center where she rose through the ranks to lead her own independent group, becoming a tenure-track Associate Professor. In 2017, she moved to Rockefeller University and currently co-directs the laboratory of Retrovirology with Paul Bieniasz. During the Covid-19 pandemic she was a regular invitee at the WHO science updates and at multiple public information sessions in the US and Greece. She serves on numerous national and international advisory bodies including as chair of committees, convened by WHO and ICTV. She is also part of the author team of Principles of Virology, a popular textbook that serves as a basis for teaching virology around the world.

Open to

Campus Only