Research summary
The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the important role that viral entry proteins and interactions between hosts and pathogens play in our ability to develop treatments and vaccines quickly. Yet little is known about the role of protein dynamics (or motions) in the evolution of viral entry proteins or the ability of antibodies to recognize epitopes. (Epitopes are the part of an antigen that is recognized by the immune system.)
Dr. Sophie Gobeil, Canadian Research Chair in Synthetic Biology and Systems Biomedicine, is investigating the role of protein dynamics in host-pathogen interactions and viral evolution. Ultimately, she and her research team aim to produce the knowledge needed to support the development of vaccines and new drugs.