Michael Farzan

Michael Farzan’s laboratory focuses on the generation and delivery of antibodies and antibody-like entry inhibitors for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, especially those caused by coronaviruses, arenaviruses, and retroviruses. We are especially committed to approaches that could prevent new viral infections and establish a functional cure for HIV-1. To do so, we develop and apply three main technologies. First, we use now well-established mRNA vaccines to deliver antigens informed by a detailed analysis of critical epitopes of the viral entry protein and properties of human immune repertoire.

Second, we use adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors to express antibodies and antibody-like proteins that can control an established infection. Finally, we have committed to a long-term effort to combining ex vivo and in vivo editing technologies of B cells with novel vaccines and vaccination strategies. Here we modify the B-cell receptor loci of primary B cells, engraft these edited B cells back to their host, and expand these cells with antigenic stimulation. This technology allows us to use murine germinal centers to select potent and highly bioavailable human antibodies. It also provides us useful animal models to evaluate and improve vaccines, as well as a new way to address unanswered questions in B-cell biology. Finally, the chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) B cells so generated can themselves be conceived of as a therapy for many disease states including HIV infection.