Projects on Ernest Y. Lee, MD, PhD

Design Rules for Immunomodulation by Host-Defense Peptides

Wed, 27 Apr 2016 00:00:00 +0000

We combine state of the art X-ray measurements with computer simulations and immune cell measurements to delineate structural design principles for molecules that modulate of Toll-like receptor signaling. Of particular interest are electrostatically self-assembled antimicrobial peptide-nucleic acid nanocrystals that amplify inflammation in autoimmune disease (Lee et al. Adv. Coll. Int. Sci 2016, Lee et al. ACS Nano 2017, Lee et al. Nature Comm. 2019).

Membrane-Active Peptides and Proteins

Wed, 27 Apr 2016 00:00:00 +0000

We combine machine learning with calibrating X-ray measurements of induced negative Gaussian curvature by helical antimicrobial peptides to develop a screening tool that can broadly discover hidden membrane-remodeling activity in diverse families of peptides and proteins with various primary functions (Lee et al. PNAS 2016, Lee et al. Interface Focus 2017, Lee et al. Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2018, Yount et al. PNAS 2019).

Multifunctional Peptides and Proteins

Wed, 27 Apr 2016 00:00:00 +0000

We use bioinformatics and machine learning to decompose how amino acid sequences can encode multiple functions in the same protein. These span antimicrobial peptides, cytokines, apoptosis regulators, bacterial secretion systems, and other membrane-remodeling proteins (Lee et al. ACS Central Science 2017, Lee et al. Bioconjugate Chemistry 2018, Lee et al. Curr. Opin. Coll. Int. Sci. 2018, Silvestre-Roig et al. Nature 2019).

Autoimmune Diseases and Chronic Inflammation

Fri, 01 Jan 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Autoimmune diseases are characterized by incurable chronic inflammation and poor quality of life. New mechanistic targets and treatment modalities are needed. We aim to understand the molecular basis of autoimmune disease and develop candidate interventions (Tursi et al. PLoS Pathogens 2017, Lee et al. ACS Nano 2017, Lee et al. Semin. Cell Dev. Bio. 2018, Takahashi et al. Sci. Reports 2018, Lee et al. Nature Comm. 2019, Lande, Lee et al. Nature Comm. 2019).