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Professor Biological Sciences eweaver2@unl.edu 402-472-1971 Morrison Center 234

Research Interests

My current research explores the use of bioinformatics, phylogenetics, immunology and molecular biology to study the basic mechanisms of host-pathogen interactions and to create improved vaccines against microbial diseases. My research program can be broken into two arms, vaccine antigen design and vaccine platform design. First, we are testing ancestral/centralized genes to determine if they are useful as universal vaccines  in vivo.  In addition we are exploring systems biology approaches to improve vaccine antigen design to improve the breadth and efficacy of the vaccine antigens. Second, vaccine platform design explores the use of alternative viral vectors as vaccines, as well as the development of safer more effective viral vaccine platforms.

Recent News Articles

  1. Researchers getting closer to a “universal” flu vaccine. Carolyn Beans. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Feb 2022, 119 (5) e2123477119; DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2123477119
  2. Vaccine shows signs of protection against dozen-plus flu strains. News Release 2-Mar-2021. https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-03/uon-vss030221.php
  3. Search for universal flu vaccine turns to tobacco plants. August 7th, 2020. by Deann Gayman. https://news.unl.edu/newsrooms/today/article/search-for-universal-flu-vaccine-turns-to-tobacco-plants/
  4. Weaver goes viral on flu, coronavirus for Faculty 101. August 7th, 2020. by Mary Jane Bruce. https://news.unl.edu/newsrooms/today/article/weaver-goes-viral-on-flu-coronavirus-for-faculty-101/
  5. Getting A Head Start On The Next Pandemic. June 18, 2020, by Jennifer Overkamp. https://nufoundation.org/getting-a-head-start-on-the-next-pandemic/

Recent Publications

Specialization:
  • Virology, microbiology, immunology
Education:
  • Ph.D. Texas A&M University
  • M.S. Texas State University
  • B.S. Texas State University
Webpage:

https://www.unl.edu/virologycenter/eric-weaver-phd#tab3