Abigail Korenek
Role
MD/PhD student entering year two.
Main Project
NS1 multifunctionality as a model for how genetically compact viruses encode proteins with multiple functions.
Scientific Rationale
Influenza NS1 is usually described mainly as an innate immune antagonist. Abigail's project asks whether that framing is too narrow and whether NS1 has additional essential functions.
Approaches
Deep mutational scanning
- Systematically probe every possible amino-acid function across the NS1 open reading frame.
Structure-preserving protein redesign
- Reverse engineer NS1 so that it is structurally similar but composed of different amino acids.
- Orthogonal approach to test which functions require sequence versus structure.
Secondary Project
AI-designed interferon mimetics: - Design proteins that structurally resemble interferon beta. - Goal: lower-potency or mid-level IFN-system priming rather than full wild-type cytokine activity. - Potential application: safer tuning of antiviral/anticancer priming.