This study shows that CD8+ T cells in EBV-positive Burkitt lymphoma are not exhausted but metabolically active and may respond to immune checkpoint inhibitors.

bioRxiv · Apr 20, 2026 · PreprintImmunology

EBV Type 1 versus Type 2: A determinant of NK cell anti-tumor activity in Burkitt lymphoma

Catherine Suzanne Forconi, Lauren Shumate, Zachary J. Racenet, Viriato M’Bana, Cliff I. Oduor, Angela M. Matta, Jeni Melo, Peter O. Oluoch, Boaz Odwar, Juliana A. Otieno, Terry A. Vik, Festus N'juguna, Ann W. Kinyua, Jeffrey A. Bailey, Christian Münz, Ann Marie Moormann

This study compares ADCC activity of CD56neg and CD56dim NK cells against EBV-type 1 and 2 Burkitt lymphoma cells, finding EBV-T2 cells are more susceptible to direct cytotoxicity.

bioRxiv · Feb 10, 2026 · PreprintImmunology

Dissecting Epstein-Barr Virus Dependence Across Diverse Infected Cell Models

Alexandria Bartlett, Camille Krejdovsky, Guang Yang, Ashley Perkins Barry, Cliff I. Oduor, Jeffrey A. Bailey, Ann Marie Moormann, Yoshitaka Sato, Micah A. Luftig

The paper assesses EBV dependence in various infected cell models and finds that EBV loss sensitivity varies across cell types, with lymphoid malignancies being more dependent than gastric adenocarcinoma lines.

bioRxiv · Dec 19, 2025 · PreprintMicrobiology

Scalable long-read Nanopore HPV16 Amplicon-based Whole-Genome Sequencing

Titus Kipkemboi Maina, David Giesbrecht, Cliff I. Oduor, Kapten Muthoka, Karamoko Niaré, Rebecca Crudale, Abebe Alemu Fola, Sin Ting Hui, Isaac E. Kim, Philip K. Tonui, Peter Muhandale Itsura, Ronald Tonui, Ann Marie Moormann, Patrick Joseph Loehrer, Darron R. Brown, , Jeffrey A. Bailey

This paper develops a scalable long-read sequencing method for HPV16 genome analysis, showing high accuracy and capturing full genetic diversity across multiple lineages.

Scientific Reports · Oct 7, 2025Peer-reviewedGenetic & Genomic Medicine

Two distinct durable human class-switched memory B cell populations are induced by vaccination and infection

Cory A. Perugino, Hang Liu, Jared E. Feldman, Jessica M. Marbourg, Thomas V. Guy, Anson Hui, Nicole Ingram, Julian Liebaert, Neha Chaudhary, Weiyang Tao, Catherine Jacob-Dolan, Blake Marie Hauser, Zayd Mian, Anusha Nathan, Zezhou Zhao, , Shiv S Pillai

Cell Reports · Apr 1, 2025Peer-reviewedImmunology

T follicular helper cell profiles differ by malaria antigen and for children compared to adults

Catherine Suzanne Forconi, Christina E. Nixon, Hannah Wei Wu, Boaz Odwar, Sunthorn Pond‐Tor, John Michael Ong’echa, Jonathan D. Kurtis, Ann Marie Moormann

The paper compares T follicular helper cell responses to malaria antigens in children and adults, finding distinct profiles that may influence antibody response duration.

eLife · Jun 21, 2024Peer-reviewedImmunology

Incorporation of Epstein-Barr viral variation implicates significance of LMP1 in survival prediction and prognostic subgrouping in Burkitt lymphoma

Isaac E. Kim, Cliff I. Oduor, Julian Stamp, Micah A. Luftig, Ann Marie Moormann, Lorin A. Crawford, Jeffrey A. Bailey

The paper identifies EBV variants, particularly in LMP1, associated with survival in Burkitt lymphoma and defines prognostic subgroups based on these features.

bioRxiv · May 3, 2024 · PreprintGenomics

Epstein Barr virus genomes reveal population structure and type 1 association with endemic Burkitt lymphoma

Yasin Kaymaz, Cliff I. Oduor, Özkan Aydemir, Micah A. Luftig, Juliana A. Otieno, John Michael Ong’echa, Jeffrey A. Bailey, Ann Marie Moormann

The paper analyzes EBV genomes from eBL patients and controls in Kenya, finding type 1 EBV is more common in patients and identifying genetic variants associated with eBL.

Journal of Virology · Jun 19, 2020Peer-reviewedGenomics