They can do this with exquisite sensitivity. A panel of B cells, engineered to detect a variety of pathogens, can then be integrated into a microfluidic chip. Preliminary results in a model system, with several prototype microfluidic chip designs, demonstrated high specificity and rapid response. The next major thrust that I will discuss is medical countermeasures. The goal is to target the fundamental mechanisms of disease, the features that are unique to pathogens, and to find ways to shift the host-pathogen balance in our favor.
Immunization is one way to shift the balance.
Current vaccines take time to make, are slow to take effect, and cover one pathogen at a time. As I mentioned earlier, a key strategy is to target functions that are essential for the pathogen, and that are shared by many different pathogens. Here are some examples. They found a number of genes that had never before been identified. Some functions are also essential to pathogen reproduction and survival.