This study evaluates antibody evasion and ACE2 receptor engagement of SARS-CoV-2 variant RW.1.1, finding reduced receptor binding but no increased serum resistance compared to other variants.

bioRxiv · Sep 18, 2026 · PreprintMicrobiology

SARS-CoV-2 BA.3.2.2 is more evasive of neutralization by sera from young children

Madeline Wu, Hsiang Hong, Yicheng Guo, Kristin Daniel, Ryan Hisner, Marc C. Johnson, Aubree L. Gordon, David D. Ho, Ian A. Mellis

This study finds that young children have lower neutralizing antibody titers against BA.3.2.2 compared to adults, despite similar titers against dominant variants, suggesting age-related differences in susceptibility.

bioRxiv · Jun 3, 2026 · PreprintMicrobiology

LP.8.1-directed COVID-19 mRNA vaccines durably boost neutralizing antibodies and mitigate ancestral immune imprinting

Ian A. Mellis, Madeline Wu, Hsiang Hong, Anthony D. Bowen, Kristin Daniel, Carmen Gherasim, Virginia Pierce, Michael T. Yin, Aubree L. Gordon, Yicheng Guo, David D. Ho

This study evaluates the effectiveness of LP.8.1-targeted mRNA vaccines in boosting neutralizing antibodies and reducing immune imprinting from ancestral SARS-CoV-2 strains.

PLoS Pathogens · May 11, 2026Peer-reviewedMicrobiology

Structural Basis for Childhood Antibody Recognition of The Human Metapneumovirus Fusion Protein

Ahmed Magdy Khalil, Behrouz Ghazi Esfahani, Rose J. Miller, Jiachen Huang, Guillermina M. Kuan, Ángel Balmaseda, Aubree L. Gordon, Jarrod J. Mousa

This study identifies antibody epitopes on the hMPV F protein from children and shows their neutralizing activity and prophylactic efficacy in mice.

Nature Communications · Dec 27, 2025Peer-reviewedImmunology

Antibody evasion and receptor binding of SARS-CoV-2 LP.8.1.1, NB.1.8.1, XFG, and related subvariants

Ian A. Mellis, Madeline Wu, Hsiang Hong, Chih-Chen Tzang, Anthony D. Bowen, Qian Wang, Carmen Gherasim, Virginia Pierce, Jayesh Shah, Lawrence J. Purpura, Michael T. Yin, Aubree L. Gordon, Yicheng Guo, David D. Ho

This study compares antibody evasion and receptor binding of SARS-CoV-2 subvariants, finding that LP.8.1.1 has high ACE2 affinity, while NB.1.8.1 and XFG show greater antibody evasion.

Cell Reports · Nov 24, 2025Peer-reviewedMicrobiology

Do Existing COVID-19 Vaccines Need to Be Updated in 2025?

Ian A. Mellis, Madeline Wu, Qian Wang, Anthony D. Bowen, Carmen Gherasim, Riccardo Valdez, Jayesh Shah, Lawrence J. Purpura, Michael T. Yin, Aubree L. Gordon, Yicheng Guo, David D. Ho

This study assesses whether 2025 COVID-19 vaccines need updating by testing neutralizing antibody titers against emerging variants in individuals vaccinated with KP.2-based mRNA vaccines.

bioRxiv · May 2, 2025 · PreprintMicrobiology

Antibody evasiveness of SARS-CoV-2 subvariants KP.3.1.1 and XEC

Qian Wang, Yicheng Guo, Ian A. Mellis, Madeline Wu, Hiroshi Mohri, Carmen Gherasim, Riccardo Valdez, Lawrence J. Purpura, Michael T. Yin, Aubree L. Gordon, David D. Ho

This study evaluates the antibody evasion of SARS-CoV-2 subvariants KP.3.1.1 and XEC compared to their parental variants, finding increased resistance to neutralization by sera and antibodies targeting the spike protein.

Cell Reports · Apr 1, 2025Peer-reviewedMicrobiology

Tracking the genetic diversity of SARS-CoV-2 variants in Nicaragua throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic

Gerald Vásquez Alemán, Cristhiam Cerpas, Jose Guillermo Juarez, Hanny Moreira, Sonia Arguello, Joséfina Coloma, Eva Harris, Aubree L. Gordon, Shannon N. Bennett, Ángel Balmaseda

This study tracks SARS-CoV-2 genetic diversity in Nicaragua from 2020 to 2022, showing lineage shifts and linking mutations to hospitalization rates.

Scientific Reports · Feb 9, 2025Peer-reviewedGenomics

KP.2-based monovalent mRNA vaccines robustly boost antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2

Qian Wang, Ian A. Mellis, Madeline Wu, Anthony D. Bowen, Carmen Gherasim, Riccardo Valdez, Jayesh Shah, Lawrence J. Purpura, Michael T. Yin, Aubree L. Gordon, Yicheng Guo, David D. Ho

This study evaluates KP.2-based monovalent mRNA vaccines and finds they robustly boost neutralizing antibodies against current SARS-CoV-2 variants, including KP.3.1.1 and XEC.

The Lancet Infectious Diseases · Feb 4, 2025Peer-reviewedMicrobiology

Recurrent SARS-CoV-2 spike mutations confer growth advantages to select JN.1 sublineages

Qian Wang, Ian A. Mellis, Jerren Ho, Anthony D. Bowen, Theresa Kowalski-Dobson, Riccardo Valdez, Phinikoula S. Katsamba, Madeline Wu, Caitlin Lee, Lawrence S. Shapiro, Aubree Gordon, Yicheng Guo, David D. Ho, Lihong Liu

This study examines how recurrent spike mutations in SARS-CoV-2 JN.1 sublineages affect immune evasion, ACE2 affinity, and infectivity, identifying growth advantages in specific sublineages.

Emerging Microbes & Infections · Sep 11, 2024Peer-reviewedMicrobiology

SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2.87.1 Exhibits Higher Susceptibility to Serum Neutralization Than EG.5.1 and JN.1

Qian Wang, Yicheng Guo, Logan T. Schwanz, Ian A. Mellis, Yiwei Sun, Yiming Qu, Guillaume Urtecho, Riccardo Valdez, Emily Stoneman, Aubree Gordon, Harris H. Wang, David D. Ho, Lihong Liu

This study compares the antibody evasion, ACE2 binding, and infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 BA.2.87.1 with EG.5.1 and JN.1, finding BA.2.87.1 has lower immune evasion and reduced infectivity.

bioRxiv · Mar 10, 2024Microbiology