Biophysical Society Bulletin | June 2020

Biophysicist in Profile

Currently, Barnes is a HHMI Hanna Gray Postdoctoral Fellow in the lab of Pamela Bjorkman at Caltech, investigating the structural correlates of antibody-mediated neutralization of HIV-1, and more recently, SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. “Using crystallographic and single-particle cryo-EM techniques I hope to gain a better understanding of how antigens interact with host receptors, and how antibodies latch onto viral proteins to prevent infection. By understand- ing these interactions with structural biology, I hope to design antibody-therapies, as well as HIV-1 immunogens capable of eliciting a protective response in vaccination.”

He is now on the academic job market, looking forward to starting his own lab at a leading research institution. “I hope to establish a research program focused on the structure-based design of therapeutics targeting protein complexes involved in infectious disease,” he says. “I hope that my future work and lab will inspire the next-generation of scientists, especially indi- viduals of color who may not feel like they belong in our field.” Barnes is a new member of the Biophysical Society, and has enjoyed committee and local events. “The fact that the Bio- physical Society provides resources and helps promote local organizations and events is great,” he says. “Being a member has provided me an opportunity to present my research in a forum with experts in my field, while allowing me to expand my network. At the 2020 BPS Annual Meeting I got to meet face- to-face individuals who I’ve only communicated with online, which was a fantastic experience.”

Barnes working in the lab.

Bjorkman shares, “Christopher had been working on deter- mining the structural correlates of virus neutralization by antibodies directed against the envelope protein (Env) of HIV-1 using a variety of techniques including X-ray crystallography (both using conventional synchrotron radiation and X-ray free electron lasers) and single-particle cryo-EM. He is now leading an analogous effort in my lab to use structural biology to exam- ine antibody recognition of the coronavirus spike protein— the analog of HIV-1 Env.” “I think biophysics is very intriguing and provides explanations for the world around us, at the molecular level. Very few disci- plines have that ability and I think it’s fantastic that when we solve structures we can see why protein X is interacting with protein Y and why compound Z disrupts this interaction,” he shares. “Solving novel structures is one of the best things ever, especially frommacromolecular crystals. There is this buildup of anticipation where you don’t know what will happen when these crystals you’ve worked so hard to optimize are exposed to X-rays. Then you see it, this beautiful diffraction pattern to high resolution. I don’t think many things can beat that feeling of not only joy, but relief that all that work wasn’t in vain. As I do more cryo-EM, I’m beginning to have those same moments, when you finally see your particle distribution in the vitrified ice and know that it’s going to be a good data collection day.”

Barnes on a hiking expedition with his family.

His favorite thing to do outside of work is spend time with his sons, “who I love more than anything in this world.” He and his wife spend a lot of time supporting their interests in sports, robotics, chess, math, and art, and they also enjoy cooking and playing video games together. He jokes, “I find it hilarious when they think they can beat me in Madden or NBA 2K, but I know one day they will so I’ll just enjoy it for now.”

Profiles in Biophysics No two biophysicists have the same story. Read about the many paths that led each of them to become a biophysicist. www.biophysics.org/profiles-in-biophysics

June 2020

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