S. Cobey

A speed limit on serial strain replacement from original antigenic sin

The paper derives constraints on serial strain replacement in pathogens, showing that original antigenic sin limits diversity and imposes a 'speed limit' on strain evolution.

High-throughput sequencing-based neutralization assay reveals how repeated vaccinations impact titers to recent human H1N1 influenza strains

This study develops a high-throughput sequencing-based neutralization assay to measure antibody titers against multiple influenza strains and finds that vaccination effects vary by individual and prior vaccination history.

Germline-encoded specificities and the predictability of the B cell response

The paper investigates how germline alleles influence B cell responses to infection, showing that while they can lead to similar responses, diverse evolutionary paths limit genetic predictability.

An egg-derived sulfated N-Acetyllactosamine glycan is an antigenic decoy of influenza virus vaccines

This study identifies an egg-derived sulfated N-Acetyllactosamine glycan in influenza vaccines that acts as an antigenic decoy, inducing antibodies that may reduce immune response to protective epitopes.

The beneficial effects of vaccination on the evolution of seasonal influenza

This study simulates how influenza vaccination affects viral antigenic evolution and disease incidence, finding that vaccination slows evolution and alters private and social benefits of vaccination.

Host population structure and treatment frequency maintain balancing selection on drug resistance

The paper models how host population structure and treatment frequency influence the coexistence of drug-sensitive and resistant strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Selection and neutral mutations drive pervasive mutability losses in long-lived B cell lineages

The paper shows mutability losses in B cell receptor genes are more common than gains, with selection contributing to mutability loss in antigen-binding regions.