Hicar Lab: B cell immunology and antibody discovery

Hicar research figure.

Inflammatory disorder Antibody Discovery: from patient blood, we separate B cells and perform deep sequencing from plasmablasts (rise 7-10 days after antigen challenge), pre- and post- intervention or antibodies shared amongst those with the disease (public clonotype). Antibodies of interest are created and used to screen on proteomic displays to identify novel infectious associations. 

Current Research Projects

The main focus in the Hicar lab has been antibody discovery against infectious agents. We have used a variety of techniques to discover human antibodies, including cloning antibodies from survivors of the 1918 influenza pandemic. We have also had funding from the NIH to characterize antibodies against HIV. Anti-HIV antibodies were isolated after flow-cytometric single cell isolation and culturing in single B cell cultures. We are using these antibodies as the basis to develop a novel HIV vaccine. We have recently characterized a cross-clade epitope on the HIV envelope that can be targeted for antibody dependent cell cytotoxicity. 

For our current projects we are attempting to discover the etiologies of inflammatory disorders thought to be related to an infection.  For antibody discovery, we have been using 10x genomics platform, next generation sequencing and single cell PCR. We are pursuing genomic and proteomic screens to identify antibody targets and discover infectious relationships. We are focusing on identifying shared antibody responses between individuals, so-called ‘public clonotypes’, that show characteristics of targeting infectious disease related antigens.  From public clonotypes, we are creating monoclonal antibodies to attempt to identify infections related to Kawasaki disease (KD) and Alzheimer’s disease. We have explored the immune targeting differences between children with KD and multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), a post-COVID 19 inflammatory condition. 

Hicar, Mark

Mark Hicar, MD, PhD, FPIDS, FIDSA

Associate Professor; Chief, Pediatric Infectious Diseases; Program Director, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Fellowship

UBMD Pediatrics Division of Infectious Diseases 1001 Main Street Buffalo, NY 14203

Phone: 716-323-0150; Fax: 716-323-0296

Email: markhica@buffalo.edu

Complete list of published work in NCBI MyBibliography:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=hicar%5BAuthor%5D