Christopher A. Cottrell

Germinal centers can persist for up to one year with declining somatic hypermutation and ongoing plasma cell output

This study tracks germinal center responses in rhesus macaques over a year, showing prolonged GCs with declining SHM and ongoing plasma cell production.

Translating Innovation to Clinic: End-to-End Bioprocess Development and cGMP Manufacturing of N332-GT5 HIV Vaccine Candidate for First-in-Human Trials HVTN144

This paper describes the development and cGMP manufacturing of an HIV vaccine candidate for clinical trials, demonstrating scalable production and quality control.

DNA origami vaccines program antigen-focused germinal centers

DNA origami particles displaying eOD-GT8 with a synthetic T helper epitope gave antigen-focused germinal centers and expanded VRC01-class precursors in humanized mice after one immunization.

Antibody feedback establishes an affinity brake in the germinal center

The paper investigates how B cell affinity affects germinal center (GC) responses by showing high-affinity B cells have shorter GC residence times and lower-affinity B cells are maintained, suggesting an antibody feedback mechanism that modulates affinity and epitope spreading.

Immunofocusing on the conserved fusion peptide of HIV envelope glycoprotein in rhesus macaques

This study shows that targeting the conserved HIV fusion peptide with modified Env immunogens in rhesus macaques can focus immune responses on neutralizing epitopes.

Structural insights into VRC01-class bnAb precursors with diverse light chains elicited in the IAVI G001 human vaccine trial

This paper reports structural analysis of VRC01-class bnAb precursors from a vaccine trial, showing they bind HIV Env with germline-like features and glycan adaptability.

Vaccination with mRNA-encoded membrane-bound HIV Envelope trimer induces neutralizing antibodies in animal models

Membrane-bound BG505 MD39.3 Env trimer delivered as mRNA-LNP reduced base-directed antibody responses in rabbits and macaques and elicited neutralizing antibodies, with memory B cell responses documented in macaques.

Antigen avidity drives the durability of the vaccine immune response.

This study shows that antigen avidity affects the durability and diversity of vaccine-induced immune responses by influencing germinal center dynamics and B cell outcomes.

Dose-dependent regulation of immune memory responses against HIV by saponin monophosphoryl lipid A nanoparticle adjuvant

This study evaluates the dose-dependent effects of the SMNP adjuvant on HIV Env-specific immune responses in non-human primates, showing increased memory T and B cell responses and neutralizing antibodies at higher doses.

A Broad Survey and Functional Analysis of Immunoglobulin Loci Variation in Rhesus Macaques

The paper develops methodologies to generate and analyze immunoglobulin loci variation in rhesus macaques, revealing extensive diversity and expanding existing allele sets by 60%.