Students

John Thomas

Major: Virology, Microbiology, Immunology
Joined program in 2004

Mentor: Johnny Peterson
Publications/Experience:
J. Virol., 2003.
Research Description: Current vaccination strategies against anthrax rely on the use of
AVA, a filtered bacterial culture supernatant vaccine adsorbed onto alum hydrogel.  AVA must be administered over 18 months in order to induce protective immunity, and often elicits severe side effects in vaccinated individuals.  Sindbis virus, the prototypical member of the alphaviruses, has been extensively used as a vaccine backbone in many applications at various stages of clinical trials.  Our approach focuses on the viral-based expression of cladistic and novel genes related to anthrax in order to induce a protective host response.  It is our hope that this will represent a new generation of anthrax vaccines capable of providing an effective alternative to

Hometwon: Billings, Mt.
Eduaction: UTSA
Hobbies: Computers
Contact: jomthoma@utmb.edu

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