# Core C: Structure, Computational, Protein Engineering

> **NIH NIH U19** · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $7,225,891

## Abstract

SUMMARY
Flaviviruses and alphaviruses are enveloped, single-stranded RNA viruses that cause epidemics
of human disease on a global scale, with new virus members regularly emerging and causing
severe disease. The major goal of our Flavivirus and Alphavirus ReVAMPP (FLARE) Center is
to establish ‘plug-and-play’ modular and optimized design technologies for vaccines and antibody
therapeutics against prototype flaviviruses and alphaviruses that can be readily applied to newly
emerging related virus threats with pandemic potential. Research in our Structure,
Computational and Protein Engineering Core C (hereafter Core C) will use structural biology,
biophysics, molecular evolution, and computational biology to support the Projects and Cores of
this consortium. The ability to probe structures at a molecular level provides insight into the
specificity and affinity of antigen-antibody interactions and guides iterative redesign of the antigen
in collaboration with the Projects and Cores. Thus, using X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron
microscopy (cryo-EM), structures of antibody-antigen complexes will be determined and
characterized (Kuhn/Fremont). Core C will provide the expertise required to engineer antibody
and nanoparticle reagents that will be used to elicit and evaluate the immune response against
target immunogens (Faissol/King). Molecular evolution analysis will be used to assess how
envelope protein mutations can evade and shape the immune response (Bloom). Core C will
work closely with each Project and other Core research teams to ensure exchange of data and
analyses to guide the efficient scientific development of consortium goals.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10862999
- **Project number:** 1U19AI181960-01
- **Recipient organization:** WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Richard J. Kuhn
- **Activity code:** U19 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $7,225,891
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-08-12 → 2027-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10862999

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10862999, Core C: Structure, Computational, Protein Engineering (1U19AI181960-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-12 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10862999. Licensed CC0.

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