Jennifer Connors
A5054311537- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies
- Immunotherapy and Immune Responses
- Immune Cell Function and Interaction
- Immune responses and vaccinations
- Long-Term Effects of COVID-19
- interferon and immune responses
- Virus-based gene therapy research
- Malaria Research and Control
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Monoclonal and Polyclonal Antibodies Research
- Immune cells in cancer
- HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk
- Immune Response and Inflammation
- COVID-19 epidemiological studies
- CAR-T cell therapy research
- HIV Research and Treatment
- T-cell and B-cell Immunology
- RNA Interference and Gene Delivery
- vaccines and immunoinformatics approaches
- HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions
- Inflammasome and immune disorders
- Education and Military Integration
- Complement system in diseases
Drexel University
2020-2025
Taipei Institute of Pathology
2021
University of Lausanne
2021
Institute for Molecular Medicine
2021
George Mason University
2019
Fox Chase Cancer Center
2004
Abstract Herein, we studied the impact of empty LNP (eLNP), component mRNA-based vaccine, on anti-viral pathways and immune function cells from young aged individuals. eLNP induced maturation monocyte derived dendritic (MDDCs). We further show that upregulated CD40 cytokine production in multiple DC subsets monocytes. This coincided with phosphorylation TANK binding kinase 1 (pTBK1) interferon response factor 7 (pIRF7). In to eLNP, healthy older adults (>65 yrs) have decreased expression,...
The IMPACC cohort, composed of >1,000 hospitalized COVID-19 participants, contains five illness trajectory groups (TGs) during acute infection (first 28 days), ranging from milder (TG1–3) to more severe disease course (TG4) and death (TG5). Here, we report deep immunophenotyping, profiling >15,000 longitudinal blood nasal samples 540 participants the using 14 distinct assays. These unbiased analyses identify cellular molecular signatures present within 72 h hospital admission that...
Abstract The glycosylation of IgG plays a critical role during human severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, activating immune cells and inducing cytokine production. However, the IgM N-glycosylation has not been studied viral infection. analysis from healthy controls hospitalized disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients reveals increased high-mannose sialylation that correlates with COVID-19 severity. These trends are confirmed within SARS-CoV-2-specific...
Age is a major risk factor for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), yet the mechanisms behind this relationship have remained incompletely understood. To address this, we evaluated impact of aging on host immune response in blood and upper airway, as well nasal microbiome prospective, multicenter cohort 1031 vaccine-naïve patients hospitalized COVID-19 between 18 96 years old. We performed mass cytometry, serum protein profiling, anti–severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2)...
Schistosomiasis is a disease caused by parasitic flatworms of the Schistosoma spp ., and increasingly recognized to alter immune system, potential respond vaccines. The impact endemic infections on protective immunity critical inform vaccination strategies globally. We assessed influence mansoni worm burden multiple host vaccine-related parameters in Ugandan fishing cohort (n = 75) given three doses Hepatitis B (HepB) vaccine at baseline timepoints post-vaccination. observed distinct...
The progressive impairment of immunity to pathogens and vaccines with aging is a significant public health problem as the world population shifts an increased percentage older adults (> 65). We have previously demonstrated that cells obtained from volunteers delayed defective induction type I interferons T cell B helper cytokines in response TLR ligands when compared those adult subjects. However, underlying intracellular mechanisms are not well described. Herein, we studied two critical...
Effective control of infection by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), the causative agent acquired syndrome (AIDS), requires continuous and life-long use anti-retroviral therapy (ART) people living with HIV-1 (PLWH). In absence ART, reemergence from latently infected cells is ineffectively suppressed due to suboptimal innate cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses. However, ART-free may be possible if inherent immunological deficiencies can reversed or restored. Herein we present a novel...
Despite numerous clinically available vaccines and therapeutics, aged patients remain at increased risk for COVID-19 morbidity. Furthermore, various patient populations, including the can have suboptimal responses to SARS-CoV-2 vaccine antigens. Here, we characterized vaccine-induced synthetic DNA antigens in mice. Aged mice exhibited altered cellular responses, decreased IFNγ secretion TNFα IL-4 suggestive of TH2-skewed responses. total binding neutralizing antibodies their serum but...
In people living with HIV-1 (PLWH), antiretroviral therapy (ART) eventually becomes necessary to suppress the emergence of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) replication from latent reservoirs because HIV-1-specific immune responses in PLWH are suboptimal. Immunotherapies that enhance anti-HIV-1 for better control reemergence postulated offer ART-free HIV-1. Toward goal developing an immunotherapy based on non-thermal plasma (NTP), early immunological NTP-exposed latently infected T...
It has been estimated that more than 390 million people are infected with Dengue virus every year; around 96 millions of these infections result in clinical pathologies. To date, there is only one licensed viral vector-based vaccine CYD-TDV approved for use dengue endemic areas. While initially administration independent serostatus, the current guidance recommends this seropositive individuals. Therefore, a critical need investigating influence serostatus and immunological mechanisms...
Although severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines have demonstrated strong immunogenicity and protection against disease, concerns about the duration breadth of these responses remain. In this study, we show that codelivery plasmid-encoded adenosine deaminase-1 (pADA) with SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein DNA enhances immune memory durability in vivo. Coimmunized mice displayed increased spike-specific IgG higher affinity neutralizing capacity as compared...
Abstract The glycosylation of IgG plays a critical role during human SARS-CoV-2, activating immune cells and inducing cytokine production. However, the IgM N-glycosylation has not been studied acute viral infection in humans. In vitro evidence suggests that inhibits T cell proliferation alters complement activation rates. analysis from healthy controls hospitalized COVID-19 patients reveals mannosylation sialyation levels associate with severity. Specifically, we find increased di-...
Abstract Despite the overwhelming success of mRNA-based vaccine in protecting against SARS-CoV-2 infection and reducing disease severity hospitalization, little is known about role lipid nanoparticles (LNP) play initiating immune response. In this report we studied adjuvantive impact empty LNP with no mRNA cargo (eLNP) on anti-viral pathways function cells from young aged individuals. We found that eLNP induced maturation monocyte derived dendritic by measuring expression CD40, CD80, HLA-DR...
Abstract Aging leads to increased morbidity and mortality posing a big challenge societies as the world population shifts an proportion of aged individuals. Immunosenescence, condition chronic level basal inflammation immune system dysregulation, is suspected decrease vaccine efficacy enhance COVID-19 complications in older Current vaccination efforts like mRNA vaccines utilize lipid nanoparticle (LNP) platforms that elicit response however, little known about how LNP adjuvantation affects...
Abstract Despite numerous clinically available vaccines and therapeutics, aged patients remain at increased risk for COVID-19 morbidity mortality. Furthermore, the patient population has suboptimal responses to SARS-CoV-2 vaccine antigens. Here, we characterized vaccine-induced synthetic DNA antigens in mouse models. Aged mice had altered cellular responses, including decreased IFNγ secretion TNFα as compared young mice. significantly binding neutralizing antibodies their serum counterparts....
Session LOCATION: George's (3rd floor of Johnson Center) The Metropolitan D.C. and Northern Virginia region is home to one the largest veteran populations in nation â men women striving live productive lives following their service, provide for families, many seeking a college education achieve goals. As public institution higher this region, George Mason University committed has distinctive opportunity serve our nationâs veterans. Currently, more than 3,700 women, nearly 10% Masonâs...