How a Single Viral Protein Hijacks Immune Cells to Supercharge COVID-19 Infection
A new discovery reveals how a SARS-CoV-2 protein reprograms immune cells to accelerate viral spread—and points to a new strategy for therapeutic intervention.
Gladstone Infectious Disease Institute
Human evolution and daily life are characterized by constant exposure to microbes. The Gladstone Infectious Disease Institute advances discovery into the interplay between these microbes and the human body, and how it shapes health and disease.
The institute integrates cutting-edge basic science with translational programs and global partnerships to accelerate new diagnostics, vaccines, and therapies. Their highly collaborative research combines virology, bacteriology, immunology, proteomics, systems biology, bioengineering, and computational approaches. The institute’s goals are to detect, prevent, and treat infectious diseases; prepare for global pandemics; and understand how exposure to microbes can cause chronic diseases.
Researchers at the Gladstones Infectious Disease Institute pioneered the use of antiretroviral therapy for HIV prevention and mounted a swift response to the COVID-19 pandemic by creating novel approaches for diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. Their innovations include the first host-SARS-CoV-2 interaction map, which revealed existing FDA-approved medications that could serve as antiviral therapies. They also developed an enhanced “combination” mRNA vaccine with improved effectiveness, created rapid diagnostic tools that utilize CRISPR technology and smartphones, and produced virus-like particles that enable researchers to study emerging viral variants.
Major Scientific Achievements
Led the Global iPrEX Study, Which Established Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) as an Efficient Way to Prevent New HIV Infections
A Gladstone team demonstrated that two antiretroviral drugs, combined in a single tablet, can be used to prevent HIV infection in high-risk populations, providing proof of concept for pre-exposure prophylaxis. The approach has been adopted in San Francisco and worldwide.
Provided First Comprehensive Host-Virus Protein Interaction Maps for HIV, Hepatitis C Virus, SARS-CoV-2 as Blueprint for New Therapeutics
By identifying the human proteins that are required for viral infection, scientists may be able to develop broad antiviral drugs that target the host proteins commonly used by many viruses. In addition, this approach could help them identify previously approved drugs targeting human proteins that may be repurposed for antiviral therapy.
Leveraged CRISPR Technology to Develop Rapid Viral Infection Diagnostic Tools with Mobile Phones
Diagnosing viral infections frequently involves amplifying viral genomes from patient samples, which is time-consuming, expensive, and requires specialized training. Gladstone scientists used CRISPR technology to invent a new technique to detect unamplified viral genomes with just a smartphone camera. This technique could facilitate tracking and controlling viral epidemics, particularly in low-resource settings.
Identified Novel Biomarkers and Possible Therapeutics for Long COVID
After a COVID infection, some individuals experience lingering symptoms that can severely disrupt their lives. A Gladstone team analyzed immune signals and blood cells in patients with long COVID, and found that a subset of their T cells were more inflammatory than those in patients who recovered fully from infection. This suggests that by monitoring T cells it may be possible to diagnose long COVID, and hints at potential therapeutic directions.
Our Investigators
Jennifer Doudna, PhD
Senior Investigator, Gladstone Institutes
Magnus Hoffmann, PhD
Assistant Investigator, Gladstone Institutes
Nevan Krogan, PhD
Senior Investigator, Gladstone Institutes
Alex Marson, MD, PhD
Connie and Bob Lurie Director, Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology
Melanie Ott, MD, PhD
Director, Gladstone Infectious Disease Institute
Nadia Roan, PhD
Senior Investigator, Gladstone Institutes
Seth Shipman, PhD
Associate Investigator, Gladstone Institutes
Sukrit Silas, PhD
Assistant Investigator, Gladstone Institutes
Taha Taha, PharmD, PhD
Research Investigator, Gladstone Institutes
Related Centers
HOPE Collaboratory
HOPE scientists aim to convert HIV from a pandemic pathogen into a harmless part of the human genome using advanced epigenetic and gene therapy interventions.
Learn More →
Michael Hulton Center for HIV Cure Research
The Michael Hulton Center for HIV Cure Research has a singular focus: to identify, reduce, and control latent HIV reservoirs, allowing infected individuals worldwide to discontinue antiretroviral therapy.
Learn More →
Center for PhAIge Therapy
The Center for PhAIge Therapy combines engineering and artificial intelligence to leverage the potential of phages—viruses that naturally infect and kill bacteria—as new treatment options for drug-resistant infections.
Learn More →
Training Tomorrow’s Researchers
Gladstone scientists don’t just study infectious disease—they teach others how to fight it too. Learn about our award-winning training programs shaping the next wave of researchers.
FROM THE DIRECTOR
Our goal is to discover the most impactful infectious disease mechanisms and translate basic scientific discoveries into cutting-edge vaccines, diagnostics, and treatments.
Melanie Ott, MD, PhD
Director, Gladstone Infectious Disease Institute
Related News
Read
Long COVID and Immune ‘Soldier’ Cells: A Q&A With Gladstone’s Nadia Roan
New research links long COVID to changes in virus-specific immune cells, particularly in women.
Read
Magnus Hoffmann Honored as 2026 Pew Biomedical Scholar
The Gladstone scientist, an expert in vaccine development, is recognized for his pioneering approach to advancing human health and medicine.
Read
Gladstone Launches Center for PhAIge Therapy to Harness AI in the Fight Against Drug-Resistant Infections
The center, funded by an NIH grant, will become one of three national centers dedicated to accelerating the development of phage therapy.
Read
A New Pandemic Threat? Unpacking the Hantavirus Cruise Ship Outbreak
Gladstone virologist Melanie Ott explains why this rare, person-to-person hantavirus strain illustrates the need for diligent pandemic preparedness.
Get Involved
Join the Team
Our people are our most important asset. We offer a wide array of career opportunities both in our administrative offices and in our labs.
Open PositionsPartner With Us
Discoveries don’t stay in our labs. Gladstone facilitates spinout companies to advance promising therapies, shortening the path between scientific discovery and helping real patients.
Learn MoreGive
Your gift to Gladstone will allow our researchers to pursue high-quality science, focus on disease, and train the next generation of scientific thought leaders.
Donate Now