Mehul Gautam
Pronouns: he/him
Research Mentor(s): Yongqun He
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Lab Animal Medicine, Microbiology and Immunology, & Bioinformatics / Medicine
Program: UROPF
Session: Session 7 (4:40pm – 5:30pm)
Authors: Mehul Gautam, Yongqun He, Anthony Huffman
Abstract
This research focuses on the subject of vaccine informatics, a new and emerging field dedicated to the statistical and computational analysis of vaccines to develop powerful immunization strategies. To document and standardize vaccine related information, the He lab developed the VIOLIN database. The VIOLIN database acts as a comprehensive catalog of experimentally-tested vaccines in trials or approved for use. This catalog provides existing data to help leverage for development of safe efficacious vaccines, which may be essential to combat against potential outbreaks. This database annotates vaccines with information on vaccine components, antigens, vaccine efficacy, vaccine safety, host response, and gene engineering. This research is focused on cataloging four hemorrhagic fever viruses: Lassa Virus, Dengue Virus, Marburg Hemorrhagic Fever virus, and Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever virus. For phase one of this research project, new vaccines that have not been included in the VIOLIN database will be annotated and recorded on VIOLIN using sources queried from PubMed or clinicaltrials.gov. Phase two of this project will perform in silico feature and functional analysis of the new antigens from the four viruses using the Vaxign2 tool. This analysis aims to identify similarities or useful predictive features that can be used for future vaccine development against hemorrhagic fever virus.
