Juliana Faria

UNICAMP / Tropical Virology

Advisor: Prof. Marcos Freitas

Juliana Faria generates single-domain antibody fragments (nanobodies) from llama immunisation against all four dengue virus serotypes at UNICAMP's Virology Laboratory, working under Prof. Marcos Freitas. Dengue diagnosis is complicated by the four antigenically distinct serotypes and the cross-reactive antibody responses that generate false positives in secondary infections — the very scenario associated with severe dengue haemorrhagic fever. Juliana has constructed a phage-display VHH library from an immunised llama and selected 240 unique nanobody clones by panning against each serotype's recombinant envelope domain III. Surface plasmon resonance kinetic characterisation of the 48 highest-affinity candidates revealed 11 nanobodies with sub-nanomolar KD values and a crucial subset with strict serotype specificity (no cross-reactivity at 100-fold molar excess antigen), and five pan-serotype binders with different epitope footprints. Juliana is now assembling these into a lateral flow cassette incorporating the strict-specificity panel for serotyping and the pan-serotype binders for generic antigen capture — a configuration that simultaneously confirms dengue and identifies the infecting serotype from a finger-prick blood sample. Her FAPESP Innovative Research grant and ongoing patent co-authorship with UNICAMP's technology transfer office mark clear commercialisation intent.