Alert: Canvas Outage Update
Canvas access has been restored for our users, but the service reliability remains uncertain. Due to recent events, Canvas has had intermittent outages which are at the discretion of the vendor and may occur during a final exam. Faculty and staff may continue to use Canvas, but we strongly advise faculty and students to prepare a contingency plan for turning in assignments and final exams in the event Canvas access becomes unavailable again.
Instructure, the company that owns Canvas, has provided an FAQ about the incident, which may not answer all your questions. We will share more information if it becomes available.
Instructure, the company that owns Canvas, has provided an FAQ about the incident, which may not answer all your questions. We will share more information if it becomes available.
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Dawid Zyla, PhD
Assistant Professor
Education:
B.Sc., Jagiellonian University
M.Sc., Jagiellonian University
Ph.D., ETH Zurich
Postdoctoral, La Jolla Institute for Immunology
According to Anfinsen's dogma, a protein's amino acid sequence determines its three-dimensional structure. While this foundational principle holds, it is only part of the story. Proteins rarely exist in a single, rigid state. Instead, they adopt multiple conformations, and these structural transitions drive their biological functions.
Our lab studies the structural dynamics of proteins, focusing on how conformational changes regulate critical processes in human disease. A major focus of our research is virology and host-pathogen interactions. We study the structural basis of viral entry and membrane fusion, with particular attention to paramyxoviruses, including the measles virus. Our recent work on measles revealed surprising mechanisms of antibody neutralization, showing how the immune system can exploit the conformational landscape of viral surface proteins to block infection.
To capture these transient states, we use an integrative approach that combines cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) with biophysical and biochemical methods. Because these biological systems are highly dynamic, we also rely on computational biology to model these changes and guide protein design. By mapping how viral and host proteins change shape and interact over time, we aim to uncover the basic mechanisms of infection and develop new antiviral strategies to improve treatment options.
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