Leo Hanke Team

Our lab integrates a range of approaches across virology, computational methods, structural biology, and biochemistry to study pathogens and the immune responses they elicit. We systematically use small specific inhibitors, such as camelid nanobodies and computationally designed proteins, to target pathogens and extract new mechanistic insights that are otherwise challenging to obtain at scale.

Through rational protein engineering along with chemical and enzymatic modification strategies, we functionalize our proteins for a growing list of biomedical applications, which can enhance detection, permit tracing, or facilitate immune recruitment. Our efforts aim to deepen the fundamental understanding of infection, ultimately guiding the rational design of effective vaccine antigens and targeted therapies.

Leo Hanke, assistant professor, leo.hanke@ki.se

Amanda Borgenstam, PhD student, amanda.borgenstam@ki.se

Carl Johan Hagströmer, postdoctoral researcher, carl.johan.hagstromer@ki.se

Avadhoot Jadhav, PhD student, avadhoot.jadhav@ki.se

Anna Králová, PhD student, anna.kralova@ki.se

Mirte Pascha, postdoctoral researcher, mirte.pascha@ki.se

William Purba, research assistant, william.purba@ki.se

Rebecca Stephanie, affiliated to research, rebecca.stephanie@ki.se

All publications from group members

• Preprint: BIORXIV. 2024

  Fc-dependent protective efficacy of non-inhibitory antibodies targeting influenza A virus neuraminidase is limited by epitope availability

  Pascha M; Ballegeer M; van Haperen R; Kooij A; van Miltenburg D; Smits A; Schipper J; Cui H; Albulescu I; Bosch BJ; Grosveld F; van Kuppeveld FJM; Saelens X; Drabek D; de Haan CAM
• Article: NATURE COMMUNICATIONS. 2024;15(1):6338

  Multi-compartmental diversification of neutralizing antibody lineages dissected in SARS-CoV-2 spike-immunized macaques

  Mandolesi M; Das H; de Vries L; Yang Y; Kim C; Dhinakaran M; Castro Dopico X; Fischbach J; Kim S; Guryleva MV; Adori M; Chernyshev M; Stalmarck A; Hanke L; Mcinerney GM; Sheward DJ; Corcoran M; Haellberg BM; Murrell B; Karlsson Hedestam GB
• Journal article: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES. 2024;25(14):7672

  Structural Basis for the Interaction between the Ezrin FERM-Domain and Human Aquaporins

  Strandberg H; Hagstromer CJ; Werin B; Wendler M; Johanson U; Tornroth-Horsefield S
• Article: CELL REPORTS MEDICINE. 2024;5(6):101577

  Structural basis of broad SARS-CoV-2 cross-neutralization by affinity-matured public antibodies

  Sheward DJ; Pushparaj P; Das H; Greaney AJ; Kim C; Kim S; Hanke L; Hyllner E; Dyrdak R; Lee J; Dopico XC; Dosenovic P; Peacock TP; McInerney GM; Albert J; Corcoran M; Bloom JD; Murrell B; Hedestam GBK; Hallberg BM
• Journal article: NPJ VACCINES. 2024;9(1):97

  Nanoparticle display of neuraminidase elicits enhanced antibody responses and protection against influenza A virus challenge

  Pascha MN; Ballegeer M; Roelofs MC; Meuris L; Albulescu IC; van Kuppeveld FJM; Hurdiss DL; Bosch BJ; Zeev-Ben-Mordehai T; Saelens X; de Haan CAM
• Article: NATURE BIOTECHNOLOGY. 2024;42(4):587-590

  High-throughput measurement of the content and properties of nano-sized bioparticles with single-particle profiler

  Sych T; Schlegel J; Barriga HMG; Ojansivu M; Hanke L; Weber F; Bostancioglu RB; Ezzat K; Stangl H; Plochberger B; Laurencikiene J; El Andaloussi S; Fuerth D; Stevens MM; Sezgin E
• Preprint: RESEARCH SQUARE. 2024

  Nanoparticle display of neuraminidase elicits enhanced antibody responses and protection against influenza A virus challenge in mice

  Pascha M; Ballegeer M; Roelofs M; Meuris L; Albulescu I; Kuppeveld FV; Hurdiss D; Bosch B-J; Zeev-Ben-Mordehai T; Saelens X; de Haan C
• Article: BIOCHEMICAL JOURNAL. 2024;481(1):17-32

  The role of phosphorylation in calmodulin-mediated gating of human AQP0

  Kreida S; Roche JV; Missel JW; Al-Jubair T; Hagstromer CJ; Wittenbecher V; Linse S; Gourdon P; Tornroth-Horsefield S
• Journal article: CHEMICAL SCIENCE. 2023;14(38):10561-10569

  Selective thiazoline peptide cyclisation compatible with mRNA display and efficient synthesis

  Liu M; Morewood R; Yoshisada R; Pascha MN; Hopstaken AJP; Tarcoveanu E; Poole DAIII; de Haan CAM; Nitsche C; Jongkees SAK
• Article: JCI INSIGHT. 2023;8(17):e167656

  Antigen receptor stimulation induces purifying selection against pathogenic mitochondrial tRNA mutations

  Zhang J; Koolmeister C; Han J; Filograna R; Hanke L; Adori M; Sheward DJ; Teifel S; Gopalakrishna S; Shao Q; Liu Y; Zhu K; Harris RA; Mcinerney G; Murrell B; Aoun M; Baeckdahl L; Holmdahl R; Pekalski M; Wedell A; Engvall M; Wredenberg A; Hedestam GBK; Dopico XC; Rorbach J
• Article: SCIENTIFIC REPORTS. 2023;13(1):14674

  Structural and functional analysis of aquaporin-2 mutants involved in nephrogenic diabetes insipidus

  Hagstroemer CJ; Hyld Steffen J; Kreida S; Al-Jubair T; Frick A; Gourdon P; Toernroth-Horsefield S
• Article: NANO LETTERS. 2023;23(9):3701-3707

  A Multiparametric and High-Throughput Platform for Host-Virus Binding Screens

  Schlegel J; Porebski B; Andronico L; Hanke L; Edwards S; Brismar H; Murrell B; McInerney GM; Fernandez-Capetillo O; Sezgin E
• Article: OPEN BIOLOGY. 2023;13(5):220369

  Caprin-1 binding to the critical stress granule protein G3BP1 is influenced by pH

  Schulte T; Panas MD; Han X; Williams L; Kedersha N; Fleck JS; Tan TJC; Dopico XC; Olsson A; Morro AM; Hanke L; Nilvebrant J; Giang KA; Nygren P-A; Anderson P; Achour A; McInerney GM
• Article: EUROSURVEILLANCE. 2023;28(13):2200432

  At-home sampling to meet geographical challenges for serological assessment of SARS-CoV-2 exposure in a rural region of northern Sweden, March to May 2021: a retrospective cohort study

  Bystrom JW; Vikstrom L; Rosendal E; Groning R; Gwon Y-D; Nilsson E; Sharma A; Espaillat A; Hanke L; McInerney G; Puhar A; Cava F; Hedestam GBK; Thunberg T; Monsen T; Elgh F; Evander M; Johansson AF; Overby AK; Ahim C; Normark J; Forsell MNE
• Journal article: CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL. 2023;29(14):e202203923

  An Efficient, Site-Selective and Spontaneous Peptide Macrocyclisation During in vitro Translation

  Liu M; Yoshisada R; Amedi A; Hopstaken AJP; Pascha MN; de Haan CAM; Geerke DP; Poole DAIII; Jongkees SAK
• Article: IMMUNITY. 2023;56(1):193-206.e7

  Immunoglobulin germline gene polymorphisms influence the function of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies

  Pushparaj P; Nicoletto A; Sheward DJ; Das H; Dopico XC; Vidakovics LP; Hanke L; Chernyshev M; Narang S; Kim S; Fischbach J; Ekstrom S; McInerney G; Hallberg BM; Murrell B; Corcoran M; Hedestam GBK
• Article: FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY. 2023;14:941281

  SARS-CoV-2 spike HexaPro formulated in aluminium hydroxide and administered in an accelerated vaccination schedule partially protects Syrian Hamsters against viral challenge despite low neutralizing antibody responses

  Christensen D; Polacek C; Sheward DJ; Hanke L; McInerney G; Murrell B; Hartmann KT; Jensen HE; Zimmermann J; Jungersen G; Illigen KE; Isling LK; Fernandez-Antunez C; Ramirez S; Bukh J; Pedersen GK
• Article: EBIOMEDICINE. 2022;84:104248

  Protection against SARS-CoV-2 transmission by a parenteral prime-Intranasal boost vaccine strategy

  Christensen D; Polacek C; Sheward DJ; Hanke L; Moliner-Morro A; McInerney G; Murrell B; Hartmann KT; Jensen HE; Jungersen G; Illigen K; Isling LK; Jensen RF; Hansen JS; Rosenkrands I; Fernandez-Antunez C; Ramirez S; Follmann F; Bukh J; Pedersen GK
• Journal article: ACS CHEMICAL BIOLOGY. 2022;17(9):2425-2436

  Inhibition of H1 and H5 Influenza A Virus Entry by Diverse Macrocyclic Peptides Targeting the Hemagglutinin Stem Region

  Pascha MN; Thijssen V; Egido JE; Linthorst MW; van Lanen JH; van Dongen DAA; Hopstaken AJP; van Kuppeveld FJM; Snijder J; de Haan CAM; Jongkees SAK
• Review: JOURNAL OF GENERAL VIROLOGY. 2022;103(5)

  Nanobodies in the limelight: Multifunctional tools in the fight against viruses

  Moliner-Morro A; McInerney GM; Hanke L
• Preprint: MEDRXIV. 2022;MEDRXIV

  Serological assessment of SARS-CoV-2 exposure in northern Sweden by the use of at-home sampling to meet geographical challenges in rural regions.

  Byström JW; Vikström L; Rosendal E; Gröning R; Gwon Y-D; Nilsson E; Sharma A; Espaillat A; Hanke L; McInerney G; Puhar A; Cava F; Karlsson Hedestam GB; Thunberg T; Monsen T; Elgh F; Evander M; Johansson A; Överby AK; Ahlm C; Normark J; Forsell MN
• Article: SCIENCE ADVANCES. 2022;8(12):eabm0220

  Multivariate mining of an alpaca immune repertoire identifies potent cross-neutralizing SARS-CoV-2 nanobodies

  Hanke L; Sheward DJ; Pankow A; Vidakovics LP; Karl V; Kim C; Urgard E; Smith NL; Astorga-Wells J; Ekstrom S; Coquet JM; McInerney GM; Murrell B
• Article: NATURE COMMUNICATIONS. 2022;13(1):155

  A bispecific monomeric nanobody induces spike trimer dimers and neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 in vivo

  Hanke L; Das H; Sheward DJ; Vidakovics LP; Urgard E; Moliner-Morro A; Kim C; Karl V; Pankow A; Smith NL; Porebski B; Fernandez-Capetillo O; Sezgin E; Pedersen GK; Coquet JM; Hallberg BM; Murrell B; McInerney GM
• Article: FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY. 2022;10:1083232

  Silver nanoparticles with excellent biocompatibility block pseudotyped SARS-CoV-2 in the presence of lung surfactant

  Gupta G; Hamawandi B; Sheward DJ; Murrell B; Hanke L; McInerney G; Blosi M; Costa AL; Toprak MS; Fadeel B
• Article: CLINICAL & TRANSLATIONAL IMMUNOLOGY. 2022;11(3):e1379

  Probabilistic classification of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody responses improves seroprevalence estimates

  Dopico XC; Muschiol S; Grinberg NF; Aleman S; Sheward DJ; Hanke L; Ahl M; Vikstrom L; Forsell M; Coquet JM; McInerney G; Dillner J; Bogdanovic G; Murrell B; Albert J; Wallace C; Hedestam GBK
• Article: CELL REPORTS MEDICINE. 2021;2(11):100450

  Beta RBD boost broadens antibody-mediated protection against SARS-CoV-2 variants in animal models

  Sheward DJ; Mandolesi M; Urgard E; Kim C; Hanke L; Vidakovics LP; Pankow A; Smith NL; Dopico XC; McInerney GM; Coquet JM; Hedestam GBK; Murrell B
• Journal article: VIRUSES-BASEL. 2021;13(10):2097

  Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 Genomes from West Java, Indonesia.

  Fibriani A; Stephanie R; Alfiantie AA; Siregar ALF; Pradani GAP; Yamahoki N; Purba WS; Alamanda CNC; Rahmawati E; Rachman RW; Robiani R; Ristandi RB
• Journal article: JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE. 2021;41(39):8249-8261

  Dorsal Root Ganglia Macrophages Maintain Osteoarthritis Pain

  Raoof R; Gil CM; Lafeber FPJG; de Visser H; Prado J; Versteeg S; Pascha MN; Heinemans ALP; Adolfs Y; Pasterkamp J; Wood JN; Mastbergen SC; Eijkelkamp N
• Article: JOURNAL OF INTERNAL MEDICINE. 2021;290(3):666-676

  Seropositivity in blood donors and pregnant women during the first year of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in Stockholm, Sweden

  Castro Dopico X; Muschiol S; Christian M; Hanke L; Sheward DJ; Grinberg NF; Rorbach J; Bogdanovic G; Mcinerney GM; Allander T; Wallace C; Murrell B; Albert J; Karlsson Hedestam GB
• Journal article: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES. 2021;22(17):9213

  Ezrin Is a Novel Protein Partner of Aquaporin-5 in Human Salivary Glands and Shows Altered Expression and Cellular Localization in Sjogren’s Syndrome

  Chivasso C; Hagstromer CJ; Rose KL; Lhotellerie F; Leblanc L; Wang Z; Moscato S; Chevalier C; Zindy E; Martin M; Vanhollebeke B; Gregoire F; Bolaky N; Perret J; Baldini C; Soyfoo MS; Mattii L; Schey KL; Tornroth-Horsefield S; Delporte C
• Article: NATURE COMMUNICATIONS. 2021;12(1):3695

  Multianalyte serology in home-sampled blood enables an unbiased assessment of the immune response against SARS-CoV-2

  Roxhed N; Bendes A; Dale M; Mattsson C; Hanke L; Dodig-Crnkovic T; Christian M; Meineke B; Elsasser S; Andrell J; Havervall S; Thalin C; Eklund C; Dillner J; Beck O; Thomas CE; McInerney G; Hong M-G; Murrell B; Fredolini C; Schwenk JM
• Article: CELL REPORTS MEDICINE. 2021;2(4):100252

  SARS-CoV-2 protein subunit vaccination of mice and rhesus macaques elicits potent and durable neutralizing antibody responses

  Mandolesi M; Sheward DJ; Hanke L; Ma J; Pushparaj P; Vidakovics LP; Kim C; Adori M; Lenart K; Lore K; Dopico XC; Coquet JM; McInerney GM; Hedestam GBK; Murrell B
• Article: SCIENCE. 2021;371(6530):eabe6230

  Structure-guided multivalent nanobodies block SARS-CoV-2 infection and suppress mutational escape

  Koenig P-A; Das H; Liu H; Kuemmerer BM; Gohr FN; Jenster L-M; Schiffelers LDJ; Tesfamariam YM; Uchima M; Wuerth JD; Gatterdam K; Ruetalo N; Christensen MH; Fandrey CI; Normann S; Toedtmann JMP; Pritzl S; Hanke L; Boos J; Yuan M; Zhu X; Schmid-Burgk JL; Kato H; Schindler M; Wilson IA; Geyer M; Ludwig KU; Hallberg BM; Wu NC; Schmidt FI
• Article: SCIENTIFIC REPORTS. 2021;11(1):3125

  DNA-launched RNA replicon vaccines induce potent anti-SARS-CoV-2 immune responses in mice

  Szurgot I; Hanke L; Sheward DJ; Vidakovics LP; Murrell B; McInerney GM; Liljestrom P
• Journal article: FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY. 2021;12:786617

  Influenza Neuraminidase Characteristics and Potential as a Vaccine Target

  Creytens S; Pascha MN; Ballegeer M; Saelens X; de Haan CAM
• Article: EBIOMEDICINE. 2021;63:103197

  Adjuvanted SARS-CoV-2 spike protein elicits neutralizing antibodies and CD4 T cell responses after a single immunization in mice

  Worzner K; Sheward DJ; Schmidt ST; Hanke L; Zimmermann J; McInerney G; Hedestam GBK; Murrell B; Christensen D; Pedersen GK
• Article: CLINICAL & TRANSLATIONAL IMMUNOLOGY. 2021;10(7):e1312

  Systematic evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 antigens enables a highly specific and sensitive multiplex serological COVID-19 assay

  Hober S; Hellstrom C; Olofsson J; Andersson E; Bergstrom S; Jernbom Falk A; Bayati S; Mravinacova S; Sjoberg R; Yousef J; Skoglund L; Kanje S; Berling A; Svensson A-S; Jensen G; Enstedt H; Afshari D; Xu LL; Zwahlen M; von Feilitzen K; Hanke L; Murrell B; McInerney G; Karlsson Hedestam GB; Lendel C; Roth RG; Skoog I; Svenungsson E; Olsson T; Fogdell-Hahn A; Lindroth Y; Lundgren M; Maleki KT; Lagerqvist N; Klingstrom J; Da Silva Rodrigues R; Muschiol S; Bogdanovic G; Arroyo Muhr LS; Eklund C; Lagheden C; Dillner J; Sivertsson A; Havervall S; Thalin C; Tegel H; Pin E; Manberg A; Hedhammar M; Nilsson P
• Article: BIOMOLECULES. 2020;10(12):E1661-1661

  Picomolar SARS-CoV-2 Neutralization Using Multi-Arm PEG Nanobody Constructs

  Moliner-Morro A; J. Sheward D; Karl V; Perez Vidakovics L; Murrell B; McInerney GM; Hanke L
• Article: NATURE COMMUNICATIONS. 2020;11(1):5588

  Selection, biophysical and structural analysis of synthetic nanobodies that effectively neutralize SARS-CoV-2

  Custodio TF; Das H; Sheward DJ; Hanke L; Pazicky S; Pieprzyk J; Sorgenfrei M; Schroer MA; Gruzinov AY; Jeffries CM; Graewert MA; Svergun DI; Dobrev N; Remans K; Seeger MA; McInerney GM; Murrell B; Haellberg BM; Loew C
• Article: NATURE COMMUNICATIONS. 2020;11(1):5064

  SARS-CoV-2 exposure, symptoms and seroprevalence in healthcare workers in Sweden

  Rudberg A-S; Havervall S; Manberg A; Jernbom Falk A; Aguilera K; Ng H; Gabrielsson L; Salomonsson A-C; Hanke L; Murrell B; McInerney G; Olofsson J; Andersson E; Hellstrom C; Bayati S; Bergstrom S; Pin E; Sjoberg R; Tegel H; Hedhammar M; Phillipson M; Nilsson P; Hober S; Thalin C
• Article: NATURE COMMUNICATIONS. 2020;11(1):4420

  An alpaca nanobody neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 by blocking receptor interaction

  Hanke L; Perez LV; Sheward DJ; Das H; Schulte T; Moliner-Morro A; Corcoran M; Achour A; Hedestam GBK; Haellberg BM; Murrell B; McInerney GM
• Article: EMBO REPORTS. 2017;18(6):1027-1037

  Vesicular stomatitis virus N protein-specific single-domain antibody fragments inhibit replication

  Hanke L; Schmidt FI; Knockenhauer KE; Morin B; Whelan SPJ; Schwartz TU; Ploegh HL
• Article: PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 2017;114(2):E152-E160

  Unrestrained AMPylation targets cytosolic chaperones and activates the heat shock response

  Truttmann MC; Zheng X; Hanke L; Damon JR; Grootveld M; Krakowiak J; Pincus D; Ploegh HL
• Article: JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY. 2016;197(12):4838-4847

  Generation of Immunity against Pathogens via Single-Domain Antibody-Antigen Constructs

  Duarte JN; Cragnolini JJ; Swee LK; Bilate AM; Bader J; Ingram JR; Rashidfarrokhi A; Fang T; Schiepers A; Hanke L; Ploegh HL
• Article: MBIO. 2016;7(6):e01569-e01516

  The Antiviral Mechanism of an Influenza A Virus Nucleoprotein-Specific Single-Domain Antibody Fragment

  Hanke L; Knockenhauer KE; Brewer RC; van Diest E; Schmidt FI; Schwartz TU; Ploegh HL
• Article: NATURE MICROBIOLOGY. 2016;1(8):16080

  Phenotypic lentivirus screens to identify functional single domain antibodies

  Schmidt FI; Hanke L; Morin B; Brewer R; Brusic V; Whelan SPJ; Ploegh HL
• Article: JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY. 2015;89(5):2792-2800

  Intracellular Expression of Camelid Single-Domain Antibodies Specific for Influenza Virus Nucleoprotein Uncovers Distinct Features of Its Nuclear Localization

  Ashour J; Schmidt FI; Hanke L; Cragnolini J; Cavallari M; Altenburg A; Brewer R; Ingram J; Shoemaker C; Ploegh HL