Overview
Background
Dr. Summa Bibbyis a structural virologist whose research focuses on understanding flavivirus structure and how changes in viral architecture influence antigenicity, with direct implications for vaccine and therapeutic design. Using cryo-electron microscopy and complementary molecular approaches, Dr. Bibby investigates the architecture of flavivirus particles and their envelope proteins. Her doctoral work demonstrated that a single amino acid residue in the yellow fever virus envelope protein can significantly alter virion architecture and antigenic properties, providing new insights into the relationship between flavivirus structure and immune recognition. Through this work, Dr. Bibby developed strong expertise in virus structure–function relationships, antibody development, and cryogenic-electron microscopy. Currently, Dr. Bibby is working to develop next-generation flavivirus vaccines and therapeutics.
Availability
- Dr Summa Bibby is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Biology, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Cryogenic Electron Microscopy
Cryogenic electron microscopy is a research technique which allows for the structure of viruses and viral proteins to be resolved at a high-resolution.
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Flavivirus Structures
I study flavivirus structures to uncover key immunological features that aid in the development of next-generation vaccines and therapeutics.
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Vaccine and Therapeutic Development
After studying the immunological landscape of flaviviruses, the key findings can be used to develop next-generation vaccines and antibody therapeutics. These can then be characterised and assessed in both in vivo and in vitro models.
Works
Search Professor Summa Bibby’s works on UQ eSpace
2025
Journal Article
A single residue in the yellow fever virus envelope protein modulates virion architecture and antigenicity
Bibby, Summa, Jung, James, Low, Yu Shang, Amarilla, Alberto A., Newton, Natalee D., Scott, Connor A. P., Balk, Jessica, Ting, Yi Tian, Freney, Morgan E., Liang, Benjamin, Grant, Timothy, Coulibaly, Fasséli, Young, Paul, Hall, Roy A., Hobson-Peters, Jody, Modhiran, Naphak and Watterson, Daniel (2025). A single residue in the yellow fever virus envelope protein modulates virion architecture and antigenicity. Nature Communications, 16 (1) 8449, 8449. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-63038-5
2024
Other Outputs
Yellow Fever Virus Structure and Antigenicity
Bibby, Summa (2024). Yellow Fever Virus Structure and Antigenicity. PhD Thesis, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/15c847f
2021
Journal Article
Implications of dengue virus maturation on vaccine induced humoral immunity in mice
Scott, Connor A. P., Amarilla, Alberto A., Bibby, Summa, Newton, Natalee D., Hall, Roy A., Hobson-Peters, Jody, Muller, David A., Chappell, Keith J., Young, Paul R., Modhiran, Naphak and Watterson, Daniel (2021). Implications of dengue virus maturation on vaccine induced humoral immunity in mice. Viruses, 13 (9) 1843, 1843. doi: 10.3390/v13091843
2021
Journal Article
The structure of an infectious immature flavivirus redefines viral architecture and maturation
Newton, Natalee D., Hardy, Joshua M., Modhiran, Naphak, Hugo, Leon E., Amarilla, Alberto A., Bibby, Summa, Venugopal, Hariprasad, Harrison, Jessica J., Traves, Renee J., Hall, Roy A., Hobson-Peters, Jody, Coulibaly, Fasséli and Watterson, Daniel (2021). The structure of an infectious immature flavivirus redefines viral architecture and maturation. Science Advances, 7 (20) eabe4507, 1-12. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abe4507
2021
Journal Article
Preclinical development of a molecular clamp-stabilised subunit vaccine for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Watterson, Daniel, Wijesundara, Danushka K., Modhiran, Naphak, Mordant, Francesca L., Li, Zheyi, Avumegah, Michael S., McMillan, Christopher L. D., Lackenby, Julia, Guilfoyle, Kate, van Amerongen, Geert, Stittelaar, Koert, Cheung, Stacey T. M., Bibby, Summa, Daleris, Mallory, Hoger, Kym, Gillard, Marianne, Radunz, Eve, Jones, Martina L., Hughes, Karen, Hughes, Ben, Goh, Justin, Edwards, David, Scoble, Judith, Pearce, Lesley, Kowalczyk, Lukasz, Phan, Tram, La, Mylinh, Lu, Louis, Pham, Tam ... Chappell, Keith J. (2021). Preclinical development of a molecular clamp-stabilised subunit vaccine for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Clinical & Translational Immunology, 10 (4) e1269, e1269. doi: 10.1002/cti2.1269
2021
Journal Article
A broadly protective antibody that targets the flavivirus NS1 protein
Modhiran, Naphak, Song, Hao, Liu, Lidong, Bletchly, Cheryl, Brillault, Lou, Amarilla, Alberto A., Xu, Xiaoying, Qi, Jianxun, Chai, Yan, Cheung, Stacey T. M., Traves, Renee, Setoh, Yin Xiang, Bibby, Summa, Scott, Connor A. P., Freney, Morgan E., Newton, Natalee D., Khromykh, Alexander A., Chappell, Keith J., Muller, David A., Stacey, Katryn J., Landsberg, Michael J., Shi, Yi, Gao, George F., Young, Paul R. and Watterson, Daniel (2021). A broadly protective antibody that targets the flavivirus NS1 protein. Science, 371 (6525), 190-194. doi: 10.1126/science.abb9425
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Summa Bibby is:
- Available for supervision
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Media
Enquiries
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