Erica Ollmann Saphire

{{short description|American structural biologist, immunologist and researcher}}

File:JS LJII EricaOllmanSaphire 0003-cropped.jpg

Erica Ollmann Saphire is an American structural biologist and immunologist and a professor at the La Jolla Institute for Immunology. She investigates the structural biology of viruses that cause hemorrhagic fever such as Ebola, Sudan, Marburg, Bundibugyo, and Lassa.

Saphire has served as president and CEO of La Jolla Institute for Immunology since 2021.{{cite web |title=Erica Ollmann Saphire appointed president and CEO of La Jolla Institute for Immunology |url=https://www.lji.org/news-events/news/post/erica-ollmann-saphire-appointed-president-and-ceo-of-la-jolla-institute-for-immunology/ |website=lji.org |publisher=La Jolla Institute for Immunology |access-date=March 25, 2024}}

Early life and education

Saphire earned a Bachelor of Arts in biochemistry and cell biology from Rice University in 1993.

While attending Rice University, Saphire avoided taking a molecular biophysics course known for being extremely difficult since she did not want a bad grade that would affect her plans of graduate school. When she finally took the class, she discovered her passion for studying molecular structures such as antibodies and viruses that may cause harm to human health. {{Cite web |title=Good Work in the World |url=https://magazine.rice.edu/summer-2022/good-work-world |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240812134959/https://magazine.rice.edu/summer-2022/good-work-world |archive-date=2024-08-12 |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=Rice Magazine {{!}} Office of Public Affairs {{!}} Rice University |language=en}}

She then moved to Scripps Research, where she earned a PhD in molecular biology in 2000.{{cite web|url=https://www.scripps.edu/faculty/saphire/|title=Erica Ollmann Saphire, PhD|publisher=Scripps Research|accessdate=October 6, 2019}} Her doctoral research focused on the crystal structure of a neutralizing antibody against HIV-1.{{cite web|url=https://www.asbmb.org/asbmbtoday/201503/InvestigatorAward/|title=Saphire, a 'leading light in molecular biology and human health'|publisher=American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology|date=March 2015|first=Maggie|last=Kuo|accessdate=October 6, 2019|archive-date=October 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191006083214/https://www.asbmb.org/asbmbtoday/201503/InvestigatorAward/|url-status=dead}} She was an avid rugby player throughout college and graduate school, and toured twice with the United States women's national rugby union team.{{cite web|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/science/sdut-scientists-life-10-things-erica-ollmann-saphire-ha-2011sep21-story.html|title= A Scientist's life: 10 Things Erica Ollmann Saphire Has Done |first=Gary|last=Robbins|date=September 21, 2011|work=San Diego Union-Tribune|accessdate=October 6, 2019}}

Career and research

After an immunology postdoctoral fellowship at Scripps Research, Saphire joined the faculty in the department of immunology as an assistant professor in 2003. She was promoted to associate professor in 2008 and full professor in 2012.{{cite web |title=Erica Ollmann Saphire, PhD |url=https://www.scripps.edu/faculty/saphire/ |accessdate=October 6, 2019 |publisher=Scripps Research}} In 2019, joined the faculty at the La Jolla Institute for Immunology.{{Cite web |last=Robbins |first=Gary |date=February 27, 2019 |title=Renowned virus fighter Erica Ollmann Saphire leaves Scripps Research for a competitor |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/science/sd-me-erica-saphire-20190226-story.html |access-date=October 6, 2019 |work=San Diego Union-Tribune}}

Saphire solved the first structure of the entire human IgG.{{Cite journal |last1=Saphire |first1=Erica Ollmann |last2=Parren |first2=Paul W. H. I. |last3=Pantophlet |first3=Ralph |last4=Zwick |first4=Michael B. |last5=Morris |first5=Garrett M. |last6=Rudd |first6=Pauline M. |last7=Dwek |first7=Raymond A. |last8=Stanfield |first8=Robyn L. |last9=Burton |first9=Dennis R. |last10=Wilson |first10=Ian A. |date=2001-08-10 |title=Crystal Structure of a Neutralizing Human IgG Against HIV-1: A Template for Vaccine Design |url=https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.1061692 |journal=Science |language=en |volume=293 |issue=5532 |pages=1155–1159 |doi=10.1126/science.1061692 |issn=0036-8075 |pmid=11498595}} The hexameric array predicted the assembly by which IgG could recruit C1q and launch the complement cascade,{{Cite journal |last1=Diebolder |first1=Christoph A. |last2=Beurskens |first2=Frank J. |last3=de Jong |first3=Rob N. |last4=Koning |first4=Roman I. |last5=Strumane |first5=Kristin |last6=Lindorfer |first6=Margaret A. |last7=Voorhorst |first7=Marleen |last8=Ugurlar |first8=Deniz |last9=Rosati |first9=Sara |last10=Heck |first10=Albert J. R. |last11=van de Winkel |first11=Jan G. J. |last12=Wilson |first12=Ian A. |last13=Koster |first13=Abraham J. |last14=Taylor |first14=Ronald P. |last15=Ollmann Saphire |first15=Erica |date=2014-03-14 |title=Complement Is Activated by IgG Hexamers Assembled at the Cell Surface |journal=Science |language=en |volume=343 |issue=6176 |pages=1260–1263 |bibcode=2014Sci...343.1260D |doi=10.1126/science.1248943 |issn=0036-8075 |pmc=4250092 |pmid=24626930}} which Saphire confirmed by obtaining the cryoEM structure of the C1q-IgG complex and hexameric IgG preparations.

Saphire is best known for her research on Ebola virus and other causes of viral hemorrhagic fever.{{Cite web |last=Robbins |first=Gary |date=February 27, 2019 |title=Renowned virus fighter Erica Ollmann Saphire leaves Scripps Research for a competitor |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/science/sd-me-erica-saphire-20190226-story.html |access-date=October 6, 2019 |work=San Diego Union-Tribune}} She was the first to discover the structure of the Ebola virus surface glycoprotein{{Cite journal |last1=Lee |first1=Jeffrey E. |last2=Fusco |first2=Marnie L. |last3=Hessell |first3=Ann J. |last4=Oswald |first4=Wendelien B. |last5=Burton |first5=Dennis R. |last6=Saphire |first6=Erica Ollmann |date=July 2008 |title=Structure of the Ebola virus glycoprotein bound to an antibody from a human survivor |journal=Nature |language=en |volume=454 |issue=7201 |pages=177–182 |doi=10.1038/nature07082 |pmid=18615077 |pmc=2700032 |bibcode=2008Natur.454..177L |issn=1476-4687}} and predicted that the Ebola virus receptor was located in the endosome rather than on the cell surface. Later, she showed that the Ebola virus VP40 matrix protein can fold into multiple distinct structures. In 2024, Saphire used in situ cryo-electron tomography to illuminate Ebola virus replication factories inside living cells revealing a hitherto unresolved third and outer layer of the nucleoprotein.{{Cite journal |title=Intracellular Ebola virus nucleocapsid assembly revealed by in situ cryo-electron tomography |url=https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(24)00973-5 |journal=Cell}} Her laboratory has also discovered the structure of the glycoproteins of Sudan virus, Marburg virus, Bundibugyo virus, Lassa virus and LCMV.{{cite web|url=https://www.lji.org/news-events/news/post/leading-structural-immunologist-erica-ollmann-saphire-will-join-la-jolla-institute-for-immunology/|title=Leading Structural Immunologist Erica Ollmann Saphire will join La Jolla Institute for Immunology|publisher=La Jolla Institute for Immunology|date=February 25, 2019|accessdate=October 6, 2019}} On field work in West Africa, she followed rodents to study how they spread viruses such as Ebola and Lassa. Saphire attracted national media attention in 2014 when she launched a crowdfunding appeal to raise funds for equipment to assist in research to fight Ebola virus.{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-ebola-crowdfunding-20141012-story.html|title= Ebola researcher turns to crowdfunding for help in finding cure |work=Los Angeles Times|date=October 12, 2014|first=Tony|last=Perry|access-date=October 6, 2019}}

In recent work, Saphire determined the cryo-electron microscopy structure of the measles virus fusion protein in complex with an antibody and determined that the antibody can trap the fusion protein in an intermediate state, thus halting fusion.{{Cite journal |last1=Zyla |first1=Dawid S. |last2=Della Marca |first2=Roberta |last3=Niemeyer |first3=Gele |last4=Zipursky |first4=Gillian |last5=Stearns |first5=Kyle |last6=Leedale |first6=Cameron |last7=Sobolik |first7=Elizabeth B. |last8=Callaway |first8=Heather M. |last9=Hariharan |first9=Chitra |last10=Peng |first10=Weiwei |last11=Parekh |first11=Diptiben |last12=Marcink |first12=Tara C. |last13=Diaz Avalos |first13=Ruben |last14=Horvat |first14=Branka |last15=Mathieu |first15=Cyrille |date=2024-06-28 |title=A neutralizing antibody prevents postfusion transition of measles virus fusion protein |url=https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adm8693 |journal=Science |language=en |volume=384 |issue=6703 |pages=eadm8693 |doi=10.1126/science.adm8693 |issn=0036-8075 |pmid=38935733}}

Saphire directs the Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Immunotherapeutic Consortium (VIC) and is a strong advocate for strategic collaborations to rapidly develop treatments for Ebola and other severe threats.{{Cite journal |title=How to turn competitors into collaborators |date=2017 |doi=10.1038/541283a |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/541283a |last1=Saphire |first1=Erica Ollmann |last2=Dye |first2=John M. |last3=Kobinger |first3=Gary P. |last4=Zeitlin |first4=Larry |last5=Chandran |first5=Kartik |last6=Garry |first6=Robert F. |journal=Nature |volume=541 |issue=7637 |pages=283–285 |pmid=28102273 |bibcode=2017Natur.541..283S }} In 2020, Saphire was named director of the Coronavirus Immunotherapy Consortium (CoVIC), an international effort to evaluate human antibodies against the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2.{{Cite web|last=Mento|first=Tarryn|title=La Jolla Institute Leading Global Hunt For Antibodies To Coronavirus|url=https://www.kpbs.org/news/2020/apr/11/la-jolla-institute-leading-global-hunt-antibodies-/|access-date=2021-04-23|website=KPBS Public Media|date=April 11, 2020 |language=en}}{{Cite web|title=La Jolla Institute Gets $1M Gift for COVID Research|url=https://www.sdbj.com/news/2020/aug/05/la-jolla-institute-gets-1m-gift-covid-research/|access-date=2021-04-23|website=San Diego Business Journal|date=August 5, 2020 }} Her lab also co-led research into COVID-19 mutations with scientists at the Los Alamos National Laboratory.{{Cite journal|last1=Korber|first1=Bette|last2=Fischer|first2=Will M.|last3=Gnanakaran|first3=Sandrasegaram|last4=Yoon|first4=Hyejin|last5=Theiler|first5=James|last6=Abfalterer|first6=Werner|last7=Hengartner|first7=Nick|last8=Giorgi|first8=Elena E.|last9=Bhattacharya|first9=Tanmoy|last10=Foley|first10=Brian|last11=Hastie|first11=Kathryn M.|date=2020-08-20|title=Tracking Changes in SARS-CoV-2 Spike: Evidence that D614G Increases Infectivity of the COVID-19 Virus|journal=Cell|language=English|volume=182|issue=4|pages=812–827.e19|doi=10.1016/j.cell.2020.06.043|issn=0092-8674|pmid=32697968|pmc=7332439 |doi-access=free}} Saphire is also spearheading "America's SHIELD:Strategic Herpesvirus Immune Evasion and Latency Defense"{{Cite web |title=The SHIELD: La Jolla Institute for Immunology Gets $49M to Drug Herpesviruses |date=September 26, 2024 |url=https://www.insideprecisionmedicine.com/topics/translational-research/the-shield-la-jolla-institute-of-immunology-gets-49m-to-drug-herpesviruses/}} as part of ARPA-H's [https://arpa-h.gov/research-and-funding/programs/apecx Antigens Predicted for Broad Viral Efficacy through Computational Experimentation (APECx)] program.

In 2021, Saphire was appointed president and CEO of La Jolla Institute for Immunology. She succeeded Dr. Mitchell Kronenberg, who had served as institute president since 2003. Saphire is the institute's fifth president and is the first woman to serve in that role.

Awards

Saphire received the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers and the Global Virus Network's Gallo Award for Scientific Excellence and Leadership. She received the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology's Young Investigator Award in 2015, the [https://www.califesciences.org/news/california-life-sciences-announces-20th-annual-pantheon-award-winners/#:~:text=The%202023%20Pantheon%20Award%20winners,BioMarin%20Pharmaceutical%20%E2%80%93%20Biopharma%20Award Pantheon Award] for Academia, Non-Profit, & Research in 2023,{{Cite web |title=California Life Sciences announces 20th annual Pantheon Award winners |url=https://www.califesciences.org/news/california-life-sciences-announces-20th-annual-pantheon-award-winners/#:~:text=The%202023%20Pantheon%20Award%20winners,BioMarin%20Pharmaceutical%20%E2%80%93%20Biopharma%20Award}} the [https://drexel.edu/medicine/community-engagement/institute-for-womens-health-and-leadership/programs/marion-spencer-fay-award/ Marion Spencer Fay Award] in 2023{{Cite web |title=Past Marion Spencer Fay Award Honorees |date=February 2, 2024 |url=https://drexel.edu/medicine/community-engagement/institute-for-womens-health-and-leadership/programs/marion-spencer-fay-award/past-honorees/}} and [https://thevalleefoundation.org/news/erica-ollmann-saphire-receive-asbmbs-2023-bert-natalie-vallee-award-biomedical-science the Bert & Natalie Vallee Award] in Biomedical Science (2023).{{Cite web |title=Erica Ollmann Saphire to receive ASBMB's 2023 Bert & Natalie Vallee Award in Biomedical Science |url=https://thevalleefoundation.org/news/erica-ollmann-saphire-receive-asbmbs-2023-bert-natalie-vallee-award-biomedical-science}}

class="wikitable"

!Award

!Organization

!Date Received

Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers

|National Science Foundation

Gallo Award for Scientific Excellence and Leadership

|Global Virus Network

|2020

Young Investigator Award

|American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

|2015