When Weaker is Better
Professor Sam Lai says this research will lead to greater protection from pathogens such as viruses and bacteria...
Professor Sam Lai says this research will lead to greater protection from pathogens such as viruses and bacteria...
Strong molecular bonds between antibodies and biological gels, such as mucus, aren’t necessary to catch pathogens as was previously thought. In fact, rapid, weak interactions between antibodies and biogels are better for locking down foreign invaders in the body’s first line of defense.
It’s like looking for a parking spot in a crowded lot, Sam Lai, Ph.D., an associate professor in the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. “If all the cars park for hours on average, then it is going to be very difficult for a new vehicle to find a spot. That’s strong binding,” he said. “But if each car is only parked for a minute or less, then you’ll have no trouble finding a spot.”
This research should ultimately lead to greater protection from pathogens such as viruses and bacteria. Lai’s work has spun off a company, Mucommune, which is working to engineer antibodies that can be applied topically to prevent diseases at the infection site.
Read the complete Carolina Story from the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy…Opens in new window
This work was supported by Lai’sPackard FellowshipOpens in new windowandNSF Career AwardOpens in new window, the National Institutes of Health, theEshelman Institute of InnovationOpens in new window, graduate fellowships from the NSF and PhARMA Foundation, and the National Science Foundation.
This is story number 89 in the Carolina Stories 225th Anniversary Edition magazine.
