Dengue virus antigenicity, pathogenesis and cell entry mechanism

Professor Sheemei Lok
Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore

My laboratory integrates cryo-electron microscopy with biochemistry and immunology to elucidate the structural basis of flavivirus infection, with a particular focus on dengue virus, and to translate these insights toward improved vaccines and therapeutics.

In this talk, I will present our work on: (1) the mechanisms by which highly potent neutralizing antibodies engage dengue virus and the implications for vaccine and antibody-based therapeutic design; (2) the structural basis by which dengue non-structural protein 1 (NS1) induces endothelial hyperpermeability, a key pathogenic feature of dengue haemorrhagic fever; and (3) the early membrane fusion events during flavivirus entry.