About Haleh
- Advisor: Gerard Wong
- Department: Bioengineering
- Campus: UCLA
- BioPACIFIC MIP Research: SET 3 - Functional Biomimics
What is your research focus?
Host defense peptides such as antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are produced in every multicellular organism and play an essential role in the innate immune response by providing a rapid defense against a wide variety of pathogens, including bacteria and viruses. AMPs are short sequences (<50 amino acids) and can directly kill target microbes by inducing curvatures and disrupting pathogen membranes. Beyond the antimicrobial activities, AMPs can also be immunomodulatory, interacting with the host’s immune systems. For example, a common characteristic of inflammatory autoimmune skin diseases is the increased expression of the antimicrobial peptide LL37. Surprisingly, the risk factor for cardiovascular mortality in patients with chronic inflammation is observed to be even higher than well-known factors such as hypertension and smoking. However, the underlying mechanism remains elusive.
My research is focused on understanding the physicochemical principles of host innate defense peptides to uncover the connection between antimicrobial activity, autoimmune diseases, and cardiovascular disorders. I will use a combination of (1) machine learning techniques to mine characteristics of AMPs that promote inflammation and the uptake of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) into macrophages; (2) X-ray scattering to assess the structural determinants of membrane complexes induced by innate immune peptides; and (3) biophysical models to correlate the induced changes in morphology of LDL particles by AMPs and the energy barrier for complex entry into macrophages. This work will ultimately provide a framework for designing new biomimetic therapeutics to reduce chronic inflammation and cardiovascular risks. This work aligns well with the BioPACIFIC MIP SET 3: Functional Biomimics.
What excites you about NSF BioPACIFIC MIP?
I am highly interested in the unique interdisciplinary research opportunities, extensive resources, and enriching experiences that the BioPACIFIC MIP program offers its fellows. I already take advantage of the BioPACIFIC MIP facilities, as my research on membrane-peptide interactions lies at the intersection of physics, chemistry, biology, and engineering, which requires access to a variety of advanced tools and state-of-the-art devices from different labs. Additionally, the BioPACIFIC MIP program offers an excellent opportunity for me to expand my network and establish collaborations with faculty from various departments across the campus, which will elevate my research to the next level, e.g., by conducting in vivo experiments to test the effects of our designed peptides on atherosclerosis development. I am also excited by the professional and outreach activities that the BioPACIFIC MIP program presents. These will allow me to gain skills as a mentor and prepare myself for my career goal of becoming a faculty member, enabling me to support the next generation of researchers in believing in themselves and pursuing higher education in STEM.
