University of Connecticut · BiologyThe LeptoVax Lab
Elsio Augusto Wunder · Storrs, Connecticut
Research Focus
Dr. Elsio Augusto Wunder's lab at the University of Connecticut focuses on developing a universal vaccine for leptospirosis, an infectious disease that affects both humans and animals. The lab is particularly interested in identifying protective immune responses against various strains of the disease-causing bacteria, Leptospira spp. They aim to create a vaccine that can effectively prevent this neglected tropical disease, which poses significant health risks in both developing and urban populations.
leptospirosisuniversal vaccinerecombinant proteinsinfectious diseasesimmunology
Research Aims
5AIM 01Identify multi-recombinant protein candidates for a universal leptospirosis vaccine.
AIM 02Evaluate the efficacy and immunogenicity of vaccine candidates in animal models.
AIM 03Characterize immune responses focused on protective B-cell epitopes.
AIM 04Utilize advanced techniques to uncover epitope binding specificities.
AIM 05Advance promising vaccine candidates towards clinical trials.
Skills the Lab Values
animal modelsimmunization techniquesprotein purificationELISAcryogenic electron microscopyhigh-throughput screeningB-cell epitope mapping
Output against the department
Publications117bottom 42% of dept.600th of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations4.3kbottom 33% of dept.695th of 1,033
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.