About the Jin Lab

We are studying protein-protein interactions that occur at virus entry into host cells and escape from endosome into cytosol, between cellular adhesion molecules in the immune system, and tumor development. Through this understanding, we are particularly interested in developing therapeutic molecules in passive immunotherapy to treat infectious diseases, drugs that would inhibit aberrant infiltration of immune cells in autoimmunity, and nanoparticles that would detect and kill tumors in the body. We utilize diverse molecular biology, biochemistry, and biophysical tools and develop unique protein engineering platforms implemented by directed evolution and rational design. Some of the novel proteins are being utilized for detection of diseased cells and tissues by whole body optical imaging, MRI, CT, and PET.

Specific research topics in our lab are:

• Developing therapeutic antibodies against integrins, bacterial toxins, and viruses
• Engineering diagnostic and therapeutic nanoparticles toward tumor detection & brain diagnostic nanoparticles
• Modification of AAV capsid as a gene delivery vehicle

Quantitative Mapping of Inflammation by QSM (for details refer to http://jin-lab.org/wiki/research/index) A brief overview of the Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping (QSM) process. A mouse is scanned using a typical multi-echo gradient echo 3D MRI sequence and modeled for 3D analysis. QSM reconstructions allow for localized observation and quantification of super-paramagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles in specific areas of the subject.