Vector Design and Immunotherapy

Gary P. Kobinger, Ph.D.

Head, Vector Design and Immunotherapy, Special Pathogens Program, National Microbiology Labororatory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Adjunct Professor, Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba.

Degrees: B.Sc. Laval University, QC, 1993: Ph.D., University of Montreal, QC, 1998. Post-doctoral training, University of Pennsylvania, Philadephia, 1999-2003.

Telephone: (204) 784-5923         
Lab: (204) 784-5935
Fax: (204) 789-2140
Email:  gary_kobinger@phac-aspc.gc.ca

Research Interests:

As a recent addition to the scientific team of Special Pathogens (July 2005), Dr. Kobinger’s main interest is the development and testing of novel vaccine platforms for different applications including the protection against emerging pathogens. 

The new vaccine platforms that are being generated and evaluated are mainly derived from viruses, pathogenic as well as non-pathogenic (e.g. HIV, Adenovirus).  Efforts of this program focus on modifying existing viruses at the molecular level and/or creating hybrid viruses for safe and efficient stimulation of a protective immunity against different pathogens including Containment Level (CL) 4 viruses. 

An ongoing objective is to evaluate each vaccine strategy with the intent of identifying immune mechanisms and requirements correlating with immune protection.  These findings should facilitate future selection and development of safer and more efficient vaccine strategies.

Recent Publications:

G. P. Kobinger, H. Feldmann, Y. Zhi, G. Schumer, G. Gao, F. Feldmann, S. Jones and J. M. Wilson.  Chimpanzee adenovirus vaccine protects against Zaire Ebola virus.  Virology, 2005 Dec.

E. Zito, A. Fraldi, S. Pepe, I. Annunziata, G. Kobinger, P. Di Natale, A. Ballabio and M. P. Cosma.  Sulphatase activities are regulated by the interaction of sulphatase-modifying factor 1 with SUMF2. EMBO Reports, 2005 Jul;6(7):655-60.

Y. Zhi, G. P. Kobinger, H. Jordan; K. Suchma; S. R. Weiss, H. Shen, G. P. Schumer; G. Gao, J. L. Boyer, R. G. Crystal, and J. M. Wilson.  Identification of murine CD8 T cell epitopes in codon optimized SARS-associated coronavirus spike protein.  Virology, 2005 Apr 25;335(1):34-45.

J. L. Boyer, G. Kobinger, J. M. Wilson, R. G. Crystal.  Adenovirus-based genetic vaccines for biodefense.  Human Gene Therapy, 2005, Feb;16(2):157-68.

G. P. Kobinger, S. Deng, J-P Louboutin, M. Vatamaniuk, V. M. Rivera, J. Markmann, T. P. Clackson, F. Matschinsky and J. M. Wilson.  Pharmacologically regulated regeneration of functional human pancreatic islets.  Molecular Therapy, 2005, Jan;11(1):105-11.

T.C. Mackenzi, G.P. Kobinger, J-P Louboutin, A Radu, N Shah, E Javazon, M Sena-Esteves, J.M. Wilson, A.W. Flake. Transduction of Satellite Cells after Prenatal Intramuscular Administration of Lentiviral Vectors. Journal of Gene Medicine, 2004, Oct 27.

R. J. Hogan, G. Gao, T. Rowe, P. Bell, J. Paragas, G. P. Kobinger, N. Wivel, H. Feldmann, T. G. Voss and J. M. Wilson.  Resolution of primary SARS-associated coronavirus infection requires Stat-1.  Journal of Virology, 2004, Oct;78(20):11416-21.

T. Rowe, G. Gao, R. J. Hogan, R. G. Crystal, R. Grant, P. Bell, G. P. Kobinger, N. Wivel and J. M. Wilson.  Macaque model for SARS.  Journal of Virology, 2004, Oct;78(20):11401-4.

G. P. Kobinger, S. Deng, J-P Louboutin, M. Vatamaniuk, F. Matschinsky, J. Markmann, S. Raper and J. M. Wilson. Transduction of human islets with pseudotyped lentiviral vectors.  Human Gene Therapy, 2004, Feb, 15(2):211-9.

Croyle MA, Callahan SM, Auricchio A, Schumer G, Linse KD, Wilson JM, Brunner LJ, and Kobinger G. P.  PEGylation of a vesicular stomatitis virus G pseudotyped lentivirus vector prevents inactivation in serum.  Journal of Virology, 2004, Jan; 78(2): 912-21.

M. F. Medina, G. P. Kobinger, J. Rux, M. Gasmi, D. J. Looney, P. Bates and J. M. Wilson.  Lentiviral vectors pseudotyped with minimal filovirus envelopes increased gene transfer in murine lung. Molecular Therapy, 2003, Nov;8(5):777-89.

G. P. Kobinger, J-P Louboutin, E. Barton-Davis, L. Sweeney and J. M. Wilson. Correction of the dystrophic phenotype by in vivo targeting of muscle progenitor cells. Human Gene Therapy, 2003, Oct 10;14(15):1441-9.

Keswani SG, Katz AB, Lim FY, Zoltick PW, Kobinger G. P., Radu AP, Wilson JM, Weiner DJ, Crombleholme TM. Human fetal trachea xenografts recapitulate normal development: implications for fetal gene therapy using pseudotyped AAV vectors. Journal of Surgical Research, 2003, Oct;114(2):261.

F-Y. Lim, G. P. Kobinger, D. Weiner, A. Radu, J. M. Wilson and T. M. Crombleholme. Human fetal trachea-scid mouse xenografts: Efficacy of vesicular stomatitis virus-G pseudotyped lentiviral-mediated gene transfer. Journal of Pediatric Surgery, 2003 Jun; 38(6):834-9.

K.R. Hallows, G. P. Kobinger, J.M. Wilson, L.A. Witters and J.K. Foskett. Physiological Modulation of CFTR Activity by AMP-Activated Protein Kinase in Polarized T84 Cells. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol, 2003, 284: C1297-C1308.

G. P. Kobinger, D. Weiner, Q-C Yu and J.M. Wilson. Filovirus-pseudotyped lentiviral vector can efficiently and stably transduce airway epithelium in vivo. Nature Biotechnology, 2001, 19: 225-230.

Laboratory Members

Matthew Klassen
Co-op Student
matthew_klassen@phac-aspc.gc.ca