Alba Grifoni
banner
albagrifoni.bsky.social
Alba Grifoni
@albagrifoni.bsky.social
Research Assistant Professor
La Jolla Institute for Immunology
Human immunology|T cells| HLA| Viral immunology| Vaccine Innovation.
https://www.lji.org/labs/grifoni-lab/
Pinned
Just out on @cp-cell.bsky.social! Focusing on Conserved T-cell Epitope Regions (CTERs) increases the ability of T cells to recognize Coronaviruses of pandemic concern. This strategy is broadly applicable to other viral families @tertuapn.bsky.social @lji.org
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Highly conserved Betacoronavirus sequences are broadly recognized by human T cells
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the critical need for vaccine strategies capable of addressing emerging viral threats. Betacoronaviruses, including …
www.sciencedirect.com
Always excited to partecipate to the Iedb workshop #iedbuw2025 @iedb.bsky.social
The dream team Dr. Alessandro Sette and Dr. @albagrifoni.bsky.social just presented an overview of the IEDB and how it can be used in research. Dr. Grifoni discussed her lab's progress on a panBetaCoronavirus approach, which used the IEDB's ImmunomeBrowser. Thank you, both! #iedbuw2025
November 18, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Reposted by Alba Grifoni
In our latest vaccine immunology study we tested whether it is possible to simultaneously prime multiple classes of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) against HIV using a combination of germline-targeting (GT) immunogens. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
@scienceimmuno.bsky.social @lji.org
Simultaneous induction of multiple classes of broadly neutralizing antibody precursors by combination germline-targeting immunization in nonhuman primates
Simultaneous immunization with three germline-targeting immunogens primes multiple bnAb lineages in NHPs, advancing multiepitope HIV vaccine strategies.
www.science.org
October 20, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Reposted by Alba Grifoni
An interesting look at how LJI scientists are harnessing #AI tools to improve vaccine development: bit.ly/4lqvbBn

This research, led by LJI Research Assistant Professor Alba Grifoni, Ph.D. (@albagrifoni.bsky.social), offers a new pipeline for addressing emerging viruses with pandemic potential.
AI Helps Accelerate Efforts Towards a Universal Vaccine
Researchers have developed a research pipeline utilizing bioinformatics and artificial intelligence to fuel the development of “universal vaccines.” These vaccines would address broad viral families a...
bit.ly
August 11, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Reposted by Alba Grifoni
LJI scientists recently made a big advance in the quest for a "universal" coronavirus vaccine! 🦠

Learn how a deep dive into T cell epitopes led to this new vaccine research pipeline: bit.ly/47ajwTV @cellpress.bsky.social #Viruses #ImmuneSystem #Tcells #SanDiego #health #medicine #science #STEM
Conserved T-Cell Targets May Boost Universal Coronavirus Vaccine Development
A new vaccine design pipeline could protect against emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants and pinpoint conserved T-cell epitopes across respiratory viruses.
bit.ly
August 11, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Reposted by Alba Grifoni
Dr. Alba Grifoni (@albagrifoni.bsky.social) and her team share new research that could help us fight many viruses at once—and stop emerging diseases in their tracks! bit.ly/45EYs6C

#virology #immunology #Tcells #health #medicine #STEM #SanDiego
LJI scientists develop new approach to fighting many viruses at once
New vaccine design pipeline could protect against emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants and more
bit.ly
August 7, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Just out on @cp-cell.bsky.social! Focusing on Conserved T-cell Epitope Regions (CTERs) increases the ability of T cells to recognize Coronaviruses of pandemic concern. This strategy is broadly applicable to other viral families @tertuapn.bsky.social @lji.org
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Highly conserved Betacoronavirus sequences are broadly recognized by human T cells
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the critical need for vaccine strategies capable of addressing emerging viral threats. Betacoronaviruses, including …
www.sciencedirect.com
August 6, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Reposted by Alba Grifoni
A new LJI study offers the first-ever map of which parts of #Chikungunya virus trigger the strongest response from the body’s T cells bit.ly/45NmDjQ

The study also offers clues for to why infection can trigger chronic, severe joint pain.

#ChronicDisease #Virology #Health #Medicine
T cells take aim at Chikungunya virus
As Chikungunya spreads into new regions, LJI scientists share a first look at how human T cells target the virus. Their findings may shed light on how viruses can trigger chronic disease.
bit.ly
July 3, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Reposted by Alba Grifoni
Each year, around 2.6M Americans receive #allergy immunotherapies, also called “allergy shots.”

LJI scientists are investigating how these therapies target the very immune cells that drive dangerous allergic reactions.
bit.ly/3Uq3Hkp

@settelab.bsky.social #AllergyShots #Health #Medicine #SanDiego
The hidden science of allergy shots
LJI scientists study cockroach allergies to discover how allergy immunotherapies really work
bit.ly
July 30, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Reposted by Alba Grifoni
After 30+ years of HIV vaccine clinical trials, this is the first time that neutralizing antibodies against an HIV clinical isolate has been generated in vaccinated people.

* "Tier 2" neutralizing antibodies, induced consistently.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Vaccination with an mRNA-encoded membrane-bound HIV envelope trimer induces neutralizing antibodies in animal models
An HIV envelope trimer mRNA vaccine enables membrane-bound expression and produces a functional immunogen in preclinical mammalian models.
www.science.org
July 30, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Reposted by Alba Grifoni
For our final #PathogenOfTheWeek post, we've imagined "Virus X." This pathogen represents a future threat to global health.

LJI scientists know that the next pandemic threat may come from a newly emerged or evolved pathogen—one we've never faced. 1/2 🧵 #GlobalHealth #immunology
March 27, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Reposted by Alba Grifoni
One of our obsessions in the Crotty lab is to better understand B-cell immunology in the context of vaccines. Rare B cells can have antibody specificities particularly important for protection against some diseases. In our most recent paper…
@cp-immunity.bsky.social
www.cell.com/immunity/ful...
Diverse priming outcomes under conditions of very rare precursor B cells
B cells that give rise to neutralizing antibody responses can be extremely rare in the naive B cell repertoire. Madden et al. show that delivery strategy and adjuvant selection affect the recruitment ...
www.cell.com
April 7, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Reposted by Alba Grifoni
#PathogenOfTheWeek: SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is probably the most recognizable pathogen of our time.

LJI scientists have been at the forefront of #COVID19 vaccine research, and they've made critical discoveries. 1/2 🧵

#virology #InfectiousDisease #SARSCoV2 #pandemic
March 21, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Reposted by Alba Grifoni
JCI Insight - Frequency of dengue virus–specific T cells is related to infection outcome in endemic settings insight.jci.org/articles/vie...
JCI Insight - Frequency of dengue virus–specific T cells is related to infection outcome in endemic settings
insight.jci.org
February 26, 2025 at 4:40 AM
Reposted by Alba Grifoni
Great article from @nature.com on how the COVID-19 pandemic has advanced our understanding of the immune system — featuring important work led by LJI Prof. Alessandro Sette and colleagues: www.nature.com/articles/d41... #COVID19 #SARSCoV2 #Vaccines #Tcells #Antibodies
Four lessons COVID taught us about the immune system
In the midst of pandemic upheaval, researchers have gained fundamental insights about how the body fends off infections.
www.nature.com
February 4, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Reposted by Alba Grifoni
LJI Prof. Alessandro Sette on the role of T cells in combatting flu viruses:

“Our research in general has shown that T-cells play an important role not in preventing infection but in making the disease less severe,” Sette said.

www.kpbs.org/news/science... #Virology #InfectiousDisease #BirdFlu
San Diego scientists say human cells offer some protection from bird flu
As the so-called bird flu wreaks havoc on chicken and dairy farms, scientists warn a new human pandemic could be on the horizon. But researchers at the La Jolla Institute for Immunology say our immune...
www.kpbs.org
January 10, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Hello T cell enthusiasts! Ever tried to combine an AIM and ICS assay? If not, here is the protocol for you!
December 23, 2024 at 3:54 PM