Fikadu Tafesse

Synaptotagmin 1 and Synaptotagmin 7 promote MR1-mediated presentation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens

This study identifies Synaptotagmin 1 and 7 as facilitators of MR1-mediated antigen presentation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to MAIT cells.

A critical signaling role for diacylglycerol in phagocytosis of M. tuberculosis

This study identifies diacylglycerol (DAG) as critical for phagocytosis of M. tuberculosis, showing that DAG disruption reduces uptake without affecting receptor trafficking or cargo binding.

Mutations outside the MR1 antigen binding groove differentially inhibit presentation of exogenous antigens

This study shows that mutations in MR1 outside the antigen binding groove differentially affect exogenous antigen presentation by altering B2M association.

Mapping SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid Function with Nanobodies

This study develops domain-specific nanobodies that inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection by disrupting N protein phase separation and replication.

An Integrated Method for Profiling Lipid-Protein Interactions Using Multifunctional Lipid Probes

This paper describes a protocol for profiling lipid-protein interactions using multifunctional lipid probes and provides methods for conjugate preparation and proteomic analysis.

Selective inhibition of MR1-restricted T cell activation by a novel MR1-targeting nanobody

This study develops a high-affinity anti-MR1 nanobody that selectively inhibits MR1-restricted T cell activation, providing insights into MR1 function and a tool for immunological research.

Multi-Omic Profiling Identifies Conserved Metabolic Pathways Critical for SARS-CoV-2 Variants Infection

Analysis of factors that regulate HIV-1 fusion in reverse

The paper investigates factors regulating HIV-1 fusion in reverse, finding that Env activity depends on cell surface levels, is inhibited by a fusion inhibitor, and is influenced by lipid membrane composition.

An effective method of measuring nanobody binding kinetics and competition-based epitope mapping using biolayer interferometry

The paper describes a method using biolayer interferometry to measure nanobody binding kinetics and perform competition-based epitope mapping.

A Nanobody Interaction with SARS-CoV-2 Spike Allows the Versatile Targeting of Lentivirus Vectors

This paper shows that lentiviruses decorated with a nanobody targeting SARS-CoV-2 Spike selectively infect Spike-expressing cells and can deliver cargo to infected cells.

Trifunctional fatty acid derivatives demonstrate the impact of diazirine placement

The paper synthesizes three palmitic acid derivatives with diazirine at different positions and shows that end-position diazirines crosslink distinct protein subsets.

Systematic analysis of the sphingomyelin synthase family in C. elegans

The paper systematically analyzes the sphingomyelin synthase family in C. elegans, identifying three SM synthases and one CPE synthase with distinct subcellular distributions.