# Malaria We posit that the structures of important vaccine targets will reveal both interesting biology, and enable rational development of vaccines. These vaccines will focus the immune response on conserved epitopes, and avoid masking by polymorphic epitopes that pathogens often use to evade immune responses. Proteins on sporozoites are candidates for vaccines that prevent infection. We are interested in determining the structure of the sheath that surrounds sporozoites, its main component the circumsporozoite protein, and the motility protein TRAP. Proteins on gametocytes are targets for vaccines that prevent Plasmodium fertilization and infection in mosquitoes, and prevent transmission to other humans. These proteins include a family unique to Apicomplexans with 6-Cys domains, and HAP2, a putative gamete fusogen conserved in many eukaryotic phyla. ## Malaria Researchers [### Chafen Lu, Ph.D. ](/people/chafen-lu-phd)Assistant Professor in Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School Research Associate, Boston Children's Hospital ![lu-chafen.jpg](/sites/g/files/omnuum3646/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/tas/files/lu-chafen_1.jpg?itok=B9dDw2W4) [### Jiabin Yan, PhD ](/people/jiabin-yan-phd-0)Research Scientist, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School ![yan-jiabin.jpg](/sites/g/files/omnuum3646/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/tas/files/yan-jiabin.jpg?itok=EBXCo1xB) [### Juan Feng, PhD ](/people/juan-feng-phd)Postdoctoral Research Fellow Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School ![feng-juan.jpg](/sites/g/files/omnuum3646/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/tas/files/feng-juan.jpg?itok=YorqYuZc) ## Recent Publications Download 56 citations download- [BibTeX](/bibcite/export?pager_style=standard_pager&number_of_items=6&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters=&&&format=bibtex) - [EndNote X3 XML](/bibcite/export?pager_style=standard_pager&number_of_items=6&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters=&&&format=endnote8) - [EndNote 7 XML](/bibcite/export?pager_style=standard_pager&number_of_items=6&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters=&&&format=endnote7) - [Endnote tagged](/bibcite/export?pager_style=standard_pager&number_of_items=6&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters=&&&format=tagged) - [Marc](/bibcite/export?pager_style=standard_pager&number_of_items=6&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters=&&&format=marc) - [PubMedId](/bibcite/export?pager_style=standard_pager&number_of_items=6&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters=&&&format=pubmed_id) - [RIS](/bibcite/export?pager_style=standard_pager&number_of_items=6&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters=&&&format=ris) ### 2025 Watson, S. M., Harvey, E. P., Pishesha, N., Ploegh, H. L. & Springer, T. A. [Nanobodies targeting EGFR provide insight into conformations stabilized by glioblastoma mutations.](/publication/nanobodies-targeting-egfr-provide-insight-conformations-stabilized-glioblastoma) *The Journal of biological chemistry* 110374 (2025) doi:10.1016/j.jbc.2025.110374. Watson, S. M., Harvey, E. P., Pishesha, N., Ploegh, H. L. & Springer, T. A. [Nanobodies targeting EGFR provide insight into conformations stabilized by glioblastoma mutations.](/publication/nanobodies-targeting-egfr-provide-insight-conformations-stabilized-glioblastoma) *The Journal of biological chemistry* 110374 (2025) doi:10.1016/j.jbc.2025.110374. - add\_circle do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract - [ picture\_as\_pdf{Watson, 2025, 39438}.pdf](/sites/g/files/omnuum3646/files/2025-07/%7BWatson%2C%202025%2C%2039438%7D.pdf) Oncogenic mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) promote tumorigenesis by stabilizing active or pre-active receptor conformations. Most EGFR-driven cancers are characterized by kinase domain mutations that directly activate the receptor... - [ picture\_as\_pdf{Watson, 2025, 39438}.pdf](/sites/g/files/omnuum3646/files/2025-07/%7BWatson%2C%202025%2C%2039438%7D.pdf) Wang, X. *et al.* [De novo design of integrin α5β1 modulating proteins to enhance biomaterial properties](/publication/de-novo-design-integrin-a5b1-modulating-proteins-enhance-biomaterial-properties). *Adv Mater* (2025) doi:10.1002/adma.202500872. Wang, X. *et al.* [De novo design of integrin α5β1 modulating proteins to enhance biomaterial properties](/publication/de-novo-design-integrin-a5b1-modulating-proteins-enhance-biomaterial-properties). *Adv Mater* (2025) doi:10.1002/adma.202500872. - add\_circle do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract - [ descriptionPublisher's Version](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40489013/) - [ picture\_as\_pdf{Wang, 2025, 39004}.pdf](/sites/g/files/omnuum3646/files/2025-11/%7BWang%2C%202025%2C%2039004%7D.pdf) Integrin alpha5beta1 is crucial for cell attachment and migration in development and tissue regeneration, and alpha5beta1 binding proteins can have considerable utility in regenerative medicine and next-generation therapeutics. We use computational... - [ descriptionPublisher's Version](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40489013/) - [ picture\_as\_pdf{Wang, 2025, 39004}.pdf](/sites/g/files/omnuum3646/files/2025-11/%7BWang%2C%202025%2C%2039004%7D.pdf) ### 2024 Li, J. *et al.* [Ligand binding initiates single-molecule integrin conformational activation](/publications/ligand-binding-initiates-single-molecule-integrin-conformational-activation). *Cell* **187**, 2990–3005.e17 (2024). Li, J. *et al.* [Ligand binding initiates single-molecule integrin conformational activation](/publications/ligand-binding-initiates-single-molecule-integrin-conformational-activation). *Cell* **187**, 2990–3005.e17 (2024). - add\_circle do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract - [ picture\_as\_pdfli\_2024\_38998.pdf](/sites/g/files/omnuum3646/files/li_2024_38998.pdf) - [ picture\_as\_pdfli\_2024\_38998\_supp.pdf](/sites/g/files/omnuum3646/files/li_2024_38998_supp.pdf) Integrins link the extracellular environment to the actin cytoskeleton in cell migration and adhesiveness. Rapid coordination between events outside and inside the cell is essential. Single-molecule fluorescence dynamics show that ligand binding to the... - [ picture\_as\_pdfli\_2024\_38998.pdf](/sites/g/files/omnuum3646/files/li_2024_38998.pdf) - [ picture\_as\_pdfli\_2024\_38998\_supp.pdf](/sites/g/files/omnuum3646/files/li_2024_38998_supp.pdf) ### 2023 Roy, A. *et al.* [De novo design of highly selective miniprotein inhibitors of integrins αvβ6 and αvβ8](/publications/de-novo-design-highly-selective-miniprotein-inhibitors-integrins-%CE%B1v%CE%B26-and-%CE%B1v%CE%B28). *Nat Commun* **14**, 5660 (2023). Roy, A. *et al.* [De novo design of highly selective miniprotein inhibitors of integrins αvβ6 and αvβ8](/publications/de-novo-design-highly-selective-miniprotein-inhibitors-integrins-%CE%B1v%CE%B26-and-%CE%B1v%CE%B28). *Nat Commun* **14**, 5660 (2023). - add\_circle do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract - [ picture\_as\_pdfroy-2023-37949.pdf](/sites/g/files/omnuum3646/files/tas/files/roy-2023-37949.pdf) The RGD (Arg-Gly-Asp)-binding integrins αvβ6 and αvβ8 are clinically validated cancer and fibrosis targets of considerable therapeutic importance. Compounds that can discriminate between homologous αvβ6 and αvβ8 and other RGD integrins, stabilize specific... - [ picture\_as\_pdfroy-2023-37949.pdf](/sites/g/files/omnuum3646/files/tas/files/roy-2023-37949.pdf) ### 2022 Jo, M. H. *et al.* [Single-molecule characterization of subtype-specific β1 integrin mechanics](/publications/single-molecule-characterization-subtype-specific-%CE%B21-integrin-mechanics). *Nat Commun* **13**, 7471 (2022). Jo, M. H. *et al.* [Single-molecule characterization of subtype-specific β1 integrin mechanics](/publications/single-molecule-characterization-subtype-specific-%CE%B21-integrin-mechanics). *Nat Commun* **13**, 7471 (2022). - add\_circle do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract - [ picture\_as\_pdfjo\_2022\_37809.pdf](/sites/g/files/omnuum3646/files/tas/files/jo_2022_37809.pdf) Although integrins are known to be mechanosensitive and to possess many subtypes that have distinct physiological roles, single molecule studies of force exertion have thus far been limited to RGD-binding integrins. Here, we show that integrin α4β1 and... - [ picture\_as\_pdfjo\_2022\_37809.pdf](/sites/g/files/omnuum3646/files/tas/files/jo_2022_37809.pdf) Lin, F.-Y. *et al.* [A general chemical principle for creating closure-stabilizing integrin inhibitors](/publications/general-chemical-principle-creating-closure-stabilizing-integrin-inhibitors). *Cell* **185**, 3533–3550.e27 (2022). Lin, F.-Y. *et al.* [A general chemical principle for creating closure-stabilizing integrin inhibitors](/publications/general-chemical-principle-creating-closure-stabilizing-integrin-inhibitors). *Cell* **185**, 3533–3550.e27 (2022). - add\_circle do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract - [ picture\_as\_pdflin\_2022\_38059.pdf](/sites/g/files/omnuum3646/files/tas/files/lin_2022_38059.pdf) Integrins are validated drug targets with six approved therapeutics. However, small-molecule inhibitors to three integrins failed in late-stage clinical trials for chronic indications. Such unfavorable outcomes may in part be caused by partial agonism, i... - [ picture\_as\_pdflin\_2022\_38059.pdf](/sites/g/files/omnuum3646/files/tas/files/lin_2022_38059.pdf) - Previous page chevron\_left - [1](?page=0 "Current page") - [2](?page=1 "Go to page 2") - [3](?page=2 "Go to page 3") - [4](?page=3 "Go to page 4") - [5](?page=4 "Go to page 5") - [6](?page=5 "Go to page 6") - [7](?page=6 "Go to page 7") - [8](?page=7 "Go to page 8") - [9](?page=8 "Go to page 9") - [ Last page 10 ](?page=9 "Go to last page") - [ Next page chevron\_right ](?page=1 "Go to next page") [ More arrow\_circle\_right ](/publications)