Gabriela’s research interests focus on altering the MHC-II loading with the use of small molecules.

Researchers are aware that certain viruses exploit immunodominance to evade the immune system. By utilizing foreign proteins, these viruses can invade the body and avoid detection by immune cells. However, using small molecules, it might be possible to influence the MHC class II loading pathway and alter the repertoire of peptides presented to the immune system. This approach holds the potential to elicit a broader range of immune responses, targeting not only cancer cells but also enhancing the efficacy of vaccines and the development of therapeutic antibodies.