GW Wins Contract to Develop Antidote-Bearing Organisms to Protect Against Biological, Chemical Threats

GW researchers will use CRISPR/Cas9 technology to genetically modify commensal organisms to help neutralize threats experienced by warfighters and first responders
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The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences researchers have been awarded a $3.6 million contract to genetically modify commensal organisms to produce antidotes for harmful biological and chemical agents, such as anthrax, Ebola, and even COVID-19.

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CRISPR‑engineered schistosomes secrete anti–SARS‑CoV‑2 C5‑Fc nanobodies. When released into the blood of infected mice, these nanobodies neutralized SARS‑CoV‑2 virions as effectively as – or more effectively than – national reference human convalescent serum. With existing controlled human infection models for schistosomes and other helminths, these findings support developing transgenic helminths as single‑dose delivery vehicles for therapeutic proteins.
Dr. Brindley and his collaborator’s recent paper was published in Nature Communications: “Heritable transgenic schistosomes as a living platform for SARS‑CoV‑2 neutralizing antibody secretion”
A heritable CRISPR knock-in in Schistosoma mansoni, a human blood fluke, generated a transgenic line that secreted a functional anti–SARS-CoV-2 antibody into the bloodstream of infected mice. Antibodies in the mice’s sera neutralized the virus, demonstrating the potential of engineered schistosomes…
MITM News Announcement
Dr. Bukrinsky's recent review titled "Maladaptive trained immunity in viral infections" was published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation
Dr. Michael I. Bukrinsky, a Professor in GW's Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine, has co-authored a new review titled "Maladaptive trained immunity in viral infections" that was published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation (JCI).
Paprika Berry, Jada Convington, and Pedro Gazzinelli holding a presentation check for an award of $5,000 for their innovative project, Weigh2Dose.
Pedro Gazzinelli, Paprika Berry and Jada Covington awarded "Global Impact Award" in GW New Venture Competition
Congratulations to Paprika Berry, Pedro Gazzinelli and Jada Covington (a PhD student in the IBS program - former rotating student) from the Gazzinelli lab, for advancing to the Top 5 in the GW New Venture Competition in the Healthcare track! Their innovative project, Weigh2Dose, also earned them…

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