Publications in VIVO

Chackerian, Bryce Professor

The Chackerian laboratory is interested in vaccine development; particularly the use of virus particles as platforms for antigen display. It has long been recognized that highly dense repetitive antigens such as virus particles induce strong immune responses. However, more recent studies from Dr. Chackerian's laboratory has demonstrated that antigens that are normally poorly immunogenic can be made highly immunogenic by displaying them in a multivalent, repetitive format on the surface of virus particles; essentially using viruses as platforms for vaccines. Dr. Chackerian has shown that this ability to enhance immunogenicity does not only apply to epitopes derived from traditional targets, such as pathogens, but also to self-antigens which are normally subject to the mechanisms of B cell tolerance. Using virus-like particles derived from RNA bacteriophage, he has been collaborating with Dr. David Peabody (also a member of MGM) to develop and implement a system that allows vaccines to be rapidly identified by affinity selection. He also has projects to develop novel vaccines targeting Human Papillomavirus (HPV), Chlamydia (in collaboration with Dr. Kathryn Frietze), Malaria, HIV, Influenza, and high cholesterol. More information on HPV research at UNM is here.

Dr. Chackerian received his BA at the University of California, Berkeley and his PhD studying with Julie Overbaugh at the University of Washington. He then trained in John Schiller's laboratory at the National Cancer Institute. In 2004 he joined the Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology at the University of New Mexico. He is a member of the UNM Cancer Center and the Center for Infectious Disease and Immunity. He also serves as co-block chair for the Foundations of Medical Sciences block for 1st year medical students.