Research
We study human B cells and neutralizing antibody responses against hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), SARS-CoV-2, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Our overarching hypothesis is that understanding the B cell response in individuals who naturally control infections, and those who have been vaccinated, can help us to understand the basic biology behind successful immune responses, leading to design of more effective vaccines. A particular technical strength of our laboratory is high dimensional flow cytometric analysis of antigen-specific B cells, which allows us to phenotype these rare cells, and also to sequence B cell receptor (BCR) repertoires and isolate virus-neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs).
Lab Members
Harry Paul
Harry is an MD-PhD student in the Immunology graduate program who studies broadly neutralizing antibody responses against hepatitis C virus. Harry is passionate about training the next generation of diverse scientists and advocating for disability rights. Outside of work, his favorite activities are cooking and baking for friends and loved ones.
Annie Gao
Annie is a PhD candidate in the Molecular Medicine and Immunology Program in the Bloomberg School of Public Health who studies the viral epitopes targeted by HCV-specific antibodies. In her free time, she enjoys volunteering with animals at the National Aquarium and at BARCS.
Katrina Kuhn
Katrina is an MD-PhD candidate in the Cellular and Molecular Medicine graduate program who is studying B cell responses to RSV vaccines, particularly in the context of immunocompromised hosts. Outside of the lab, Katrina likes baking, exploring Baltimore’s coffee shops, and reading.
Laura Sanchez Buitrago
Laura is a PhD candidate in the Biological Chemistry graduate program who is co-mentored by Dr. Bailey and Dr. Steve Gould. She works on engineering and characterizing cell lines expressing the envelope glycoproteins of hepatitis C virus (HCV). She is from Colombia, and owns 4 German shepherd dogs, cows, donkeys, chickens and a horse on her family’s farm.
Oluwapelumi Shodubi
Pelumi is a PhD candidate in the Biological Chemistry graduate program who is co-mentored by Dr. Bailey and Dr. Steve Gould. She works on engineering and characterizing cell lines expressing the surface antigens of hepatitis B virus (HBV). Outside the lab, she enjoys cooking, experimenting with new recipes, hiking, and exploring nature trails.
Bailey Lab Alumni
- Lisa Wasilewski, PhD, 2013-2016 graduate student. Currently research associate at MedImmune.
- Ramy El-Diwany, MD, PhD, 2014-2017 graduate student. Currently Johns Hopkins transplant surgery fellow.
- Madeleine Mankowski, 2015-2017 undergraduate researcher. Currently PhD candidate Yale University.
- Valerie Kinchen, PhD, 2015-2019 graduate student. Currently consultant, Envision Pharma Group.
- Michelle Colbert, MD, 2016-2018 Doctoral Diversity Program postbaccalaureate scholar. Currently Mayo Clinic dermatology resident.
- Clinton Ogega, PhD, 2018-2022 graduate student and 2022 Alicia Showalter Reynolds Young Investigator Award winner. Currently Senior Scientist, Moderna.
- Jordan Salas, 2018-2020 Doctoral Diversity Program postbaccalaureate scholar. Currently Oregon Health Sciences Medical Student.
- Nicole Skinner, MD, PhD, 2019-2021 Postdoctoral Fellow. Currently Assistant Professor of Medicine, Ohio State University.
- Nicole Frumento, PhD, 2019-2023 graduate student and 2023 Michael A. Shanoff Young Investigator Award winner. Currently Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Oxford.
Selected Publications
- Ogega CO, Skinner NE, Schoenle MV, Wilcox XE, Frumento N, Wright DA, Paul HT, Sinnis-Bourozikas A, Clark KE, Figueroa A, Bjorkman PJ, Ray SC, Flyak AI, Bailey JR. Convergent evolution and targeting of diverse E2 epitopes by human broadly neutralizing antibodies are associated with HCV clearance. Immunity. 2024 Apr 9;57(4):890-903.e6.
- Frumento N, Sinnis-Bourozikas A, Paul HT, Stavrakis G, Zahid MN, Wang S, Ray SC, Flyak AI, Shaw GM, Cox AL, Bailey JR. Neutralizing antibodies evolve to exploit vulnerable sites in the HCV envelope glycoprotein E2 and mediate spontaneous clearance of infection. Immunity. 2024 Jan 9;57(1):40-51.e5.
- Frumento N, Figueroa A, Wang T, Zahid MN, Wang S, Massaccesi G, Stavrakis G, Crowe JE Jr, Flyak AI, Ji H, Ray SC, Shaw G, Cox AL, Bailey JR. Repeated exposure to heterologous hepatitis C viruses associates with enhanced neutralizing antibody breadth and potency. J Clin Invest. 2022 May 19.
- Salas JH, Urbanowicz RA, Guest JD, Frumento N, Figueroa A, Clark KE, Keck Z, Cowton VM, Cole SJ, Patel AH, Fuerst TR, Drummer HE, Major M, Tarr AW, Ball JK, Law M, Pierce BG, Foung SKH, Bailey JR. An Antigenically Diverse, Representative Panel of Envelope Glycoproteins for Hepatitis C Virus Vaccine Development. Gastroenterology. 2022 Feb;162(2):562-574.
- Ogega CO, Skinner NE, Flyak AI, Clark KE, Board NL, Bjorkman PJ, Crowe JE Jr, Cox AL, Ray SC, Bailey JR. B cell overexpression of FCRL5 and PD-1 is associated with low antibody titers in HCV infection. PLoS Pathog. 2022 Jan;18(1):e1010179.
- Ogega CO, Skinner NE, Blair PW, Park HS, Littlefield K, Ganesan A, Dhakal S, Ladiwala P, Antar AA, Ray SC, Betenbaugh MJ, Pekosz A, Klein SL, Manabe YC, Cox AL, Bailey JR. Durable SARS-CoV-2 B cell immunity after mild or severe disease. J Clin Invest. 2021 Apr 1;131(7).
- Full publication list: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/justin.bailey.1/bibliography/public/
