Florian Douam
Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor of Virology, Immunology & Microbiology
See BU Profile for more information and publications.
Immunological mechanisms regulating susceptibility to human RNA viruses.
Human positive-sense RNA viruses pose a significant threat to global health. Our research program, with aspecific focus on the Flaviviridae and Coronaviridae viral families, aims to identify novel immunological mechanisms that govern the pathogenicity and immunogenicity of these viruses. To achieve this, we develop and leverage innovative humanized mouse models that recapitulate human-specific diseases and immune processes during viral infection. Our investigations are conducted through three distinct research angles.
1. What immunoregulatory mechanisms drive susceptibility to human respiratory viruses and their long-term sequelae?
In this research axis, we leverage multiple mouse models harboring a human immune system and/or human lung tissues, as well as numerous transgenic mouse models, to uncover the following: i) human immune mechanisms defining the resolution of coronavirus infection in human lung tissues, ii) the contribution of biological sex in regulating lung antiviral immunity and iii) the impact of post-acute sequelae of respiratory infection on the hematopoietic compartment.
2. What human cutaneous responses define effective arbovirus transmission following bites from infected
arthropods?
This research axis aims at developing and leveraging advanced humanized mouse models and organoid systems to unravel the human cutaneous responses to mosquito-borne flaviviruses following bite by infected mosquitoes. We seek to understand how these responses contribute to the effective transmission and systemic dissemination of these viruses in humans. We are also interested in elucidating the contributions of arthropod, viral and microbial components in regulating these human cutaneous responses.
3. How do human-specific non-coding RNAs regulate antiviral immunity to flaviviruses?
This research axis aims to identify human-specific non-coding RNAs, particularly micro-RNAs and enhancer RNAs, regulating cell-intrinsic antiviral immunity during flavivirus infection. We are particularly interested in the interplay between these non-coding RNA and the expression of specific antiviral restriction factors and mediators of the cellular stress response during infection. By expressing these non-coding RNA into mice, we also aim to uncover their contributions to flavivirus immunogenicity and pathogenesis.
Our research program takes a unique, multidisciplinary, and human-focused approach to viral immunology. By
combining advanced humanized mouse models, “omics” methodologies, and stem cell-derived organoids, we
are ideally positioned to uncover novel molecular rationales for designing innovative vaccine and
immunotherapy strategies against clinically relevant viral diseases.