Peter Beernink, PhD

Title(s)Professor, Pediatrics
SchoolSchool of Medicine
Address5700 Martin Luther King Jr Way, #4842
Oakland CA 94609
Phone510-450-7970
ORCID ORCID Icon0000-0001-5734-083X Additional info
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    Collapse Biography 
    Collapse Education and Training
    Cornell University, Ithaca, NYA.B.05/1988Microbial Genetics
    Boston University, Boston, MAPh.D.06/1995Molecular Biology and Biochemistry
    University of California, Berkeley, CAPostdoc03/1999Physical Biochemistry
    Collapse Awards and Honors
    UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland2021Scientific Career Achievement Award
    UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland2020Clorox Endowed Chair of Immunobiology and Vaccine Development
    Children's Hospital & Research Center at Oakland2016Scientific Achievement Award
    U.C. Berkeley1998  - 2000Individual National Research Service Award (F32)

    Collapse Overview 
    Collapse Overview
    My laboratory is focused on understanding specific molecular interactions between host and pathogen, in particular between complement Factor H and Neisserial surface proteins. These investigations are directly applicable for developing improved vaccines for prevention of disease caused by the bacteria from the genus Neisseria. These microbes colonize mucous membranes, which can lead to invasive infections including sepsis, meningitis, urethritis and other infections. Our research includes genetic, biochemical and immunological studies of Neisserial surface antigens, including meningococcal Factor H binding protein and Neisserial surface protein A. These proteins are important for virulence because they recruit complement Factor H to the bacterial surface, which enables the bacteria to evade host immunity. Our studies are expected to elucidate mechanisms of pathogenesis and protective antibody function and to lead to next-generation Neisserial vaccines.

    Collapse Research 
    Collapse Research Activities and Funding
    Improved protein-based meningococcal serogroup B vaccines
    NIH R01AI134868May 15, 2018 - Apr 30, 2023
    Role: Principal Investigator
    The effect of binding of fH to meningococcal fHbp on antibody protection
    NIH/NIAID R01AI114701Dec 1, 2014 - Nov 30, 2020
    Role: Principal Investigator

    Collapse ORNG Applications 
    Collapse Featured Publications

    Collapse Bibliographic 
    Collapse Publications
    Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Researchers can login to make corrections and additions, or contact us for help. to make corrections and additions.
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    Altmetrics Details PMC Citations indicate the number of times the publication was cited by articles in PubMed Central, and the Altmetric score represents citations in news articles and social media. (Note that publications are often cited in additional ways that are not shown here.) Fields are based on how the National Library of Medicine (NLM) classifies the publication's journal and might not represent the specific topic of the publication. Translation tags are based on the publication type and the MeSH terms NLM assigns to the publication. Some publications (especially newer ones and publications not in PubMed) might not yet be assigned Field or Translation tags.) Click a Field or Translation tag to filter the publications.
    1. An adenoviral-vectored vaccine confers seroprotection against capsular group B meningococcal disease. Sci Transl Med. 2023 06 21; 15(701):eade3901. Dold C, Marsay L, Wang N, Silva-Reyes L, Clutterbuck E, Paterson GK, Sharkey K, Wyllie D, Beernink PT, Hill AV, Pollard AJ, Rollier CS. PMID: 37343082.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    2. Two human antibodies to a meningococcal serogroup B vaccine antigen enhance binding of complement Factor H by stabilizing the Factor H binding site. PLoS Pathog. 2021 06; 17(6):e1009655. Sands NA, Beernink PT. PMID: 34125873; PMCID: PMC8224966.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    3. Broad vaccine protection against Neisseria meningitidis using factor H binding protein. Vaccine. 2020 11 17; 38(49):7716-7727. Findlow J, Bayliss CD, Beernink PT, Borrow R, Liberator P, Balmer P. PMID: 32878710; PMCID: PMC8082720.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    4. Effect of complement Factor H on antibody repertoire and protection elicited by meningococcal capsular group B vaccines containing Factor H binding protein. Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2020 03 03; 16(3):703-712. Beernink PT. PMID: 31526219; PMCID: PMC7227650.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    5. Anti-Factor H Antibody Reactivity in Young Adults Vaccinated with a Meningococcal Serogroup B Vaccine Containing Factor H Binding Protein. mSphere. 2019 07 03; 4(4). Sharkey K, Beernink PT, Langley JM, Gantt S, Quach C, Dold C, Liu Q, Galvan M, Granoff DM. PMID: 31270173; PMCID: PMC6609231.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 6     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    6. A Meningococcal Outer Membrane Vesicle Vaccine with Overexpressed Mutant FHbp Elicits Higher Protective Antibody Responses in Infant Rhesus Macaques than a Licensed Serogroup B Vaccine. mBio. 2019 06 18; 10(3). Beernink PT, Vianzon V, Lewis LA, Moe GR, Granoff DM. PMID: 31213564; PMCID: PMC6581866.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 17     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    7. A Meningococcal Native Outer Membrane Vesicle Vaccine With Attenuated Endotoxin and Overexpressed Factor H Binding Protein Elicits Gonococcal Bactericidal Antibodies. J Infect Dis. 2019 03 15; 219(7):1130-1137. Beernink PT, Ispasanie E, Lewis LA, Ram S, Moe GR, Granoff DM. PMID: 30346576; PMCID: PMC6420169.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 24     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    8. Molecular characterization of two sub-family specific monoclonal antibodies to meningococcal Factor H binding protein. Heliyon. 2018 Apr; 4(4):e00591. Lo Passo C, Zippilli L, Angiolillo A, Costa I, Pernice I, Galbo R, Felici F, Beernink PT. PMID: 29644339; PMCID: PMC5889710.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1  
    9. Crystal structure reveals vaccine elicited bactericidal human antibody targeting a conserved epitope on meningococcal fHbp. Nat Commun. 2018 02 06; 9(1):528. López-Sagaseta J, Beernink PT, Bianchi F, Santini L, Frigimelica E, Lucas AH, Pizza M, Bottomley MJ. PMID: 29410413; PMCID: PMC5802752.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 13     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    10. Charge neutralization in the active site of the catalytic trimer of aspartate transcarbamoylase promotes diverse structural changes. Protein Sci. 2017 Nov; 26(11):2221-2228. Endrizzi JA, Beernink PT. PMID: 28833948; PMCID: PMC5654843.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    11. Neisseria meningitidis factor H-binding protein bound to monoclonal antibody JAR5: implications for antibody synergy. Biochem J. 2016 Dec 15; 473(24):4699-4713. Malito E, Lo Surdo P, Veggi D, Santini L, Stefek H, Brunelli B, Luzzi E, Bottomley MJ, Beernink PT, Scarselli M. PMID: 27784765; PMCID: PMC6398935.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 11     Fields:    Translation:Cells
    12. Enhanced protective antibody to a mutant meningococcal factor H-binding protein with low-factor H binding. JCI Insight. 2016 Sep 08; 1(14):e88907. Granoff DM, Giuntini S, Gowans FA, Lujan E, Sharkey K, Beernink PT. PMID: 27668287; PMCID: PMC5033880.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 14     Fields:    
    13. Human IgG1, IgG3, and IgG3 Hinge-Truncated Mutants Show Different Protection Capabilities against Meningococci Depending on the Target Antigen and Epitope Specificity. Clin Vaccine Immunol. 2016 08; 23(8):698-706. Giuntini S, Granoff DM, Beernink PT, Ihle O, Bratlie D, Michaelsen TE. PMID: 27307451; PMCID: PMC4979173.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 27     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    14. Meningococcal Factor H Binding Protein Vaccine Antigens with Increased Thermal Stability and Decreased Binding of Human Factor H. Infect Immun. 2016 06; 84(6):1735-1742. Rossi R, Konar M, Beernink PT. PMID: 27021245; PMCID: PMC4907147.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 8     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    15. A meningococcal vaccine antigen engineered to increase thermal stability and stabilize protective epitopes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2015 Dec 01; 112(48):14823-8. Konar M, Pajon R, Beernink PT. PMID: 26627237; PMCID: PMC4672778.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 10     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    16. Effect of complement Factor H on anti-FHbp serum bactericidal antibody responses of infant rhesus macaques boosted with a licensed meningococcal serogroup B vaccine. Vaccine. 2015 Dec 16; 33(51):7168-7175. Giuntini S, Beernink PT, Granoff DM. PMID: 26562320; PMCID: PMC4684420.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 11     Fields:    Translation:Animals
    17. Susceptibility of Meningococcal Strains Responsible for Two Serogroup B Outbreaks on U.S. University Campuses to Serum Bactericidal Activity Elicited by the MenB-4C Vaccine. Clin Vaccine Immunol. 2015 Dec; 22(12):1227-34. Rossi R, Beernink PT, Giuntini S, Granoff DM. PMID: 26424832; PMCID: PMC4658582.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 12     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    18. A Newly-Identified Polymorphism in Rhesus Macaque Complement Factor H Modulates Binding Affinity for Meningococcal FHbp. PLoS One. 2015; 10(8):e0135996. Konar M, Beernink PT, Granoff DM. PMID: 26285122; PMCID: PMC4540320.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 5     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimals
    19. Functional Analysis of the Human Antibody Response to Meningococcal Factor H Binding Protein. mBio. 2015 Jun 23; 6(3):e00842. Beernink PT, Giuntini S, Costa I, Lucas AH, Granoff DM. PMID: 26106082; PMCID: PMC4479705.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 12     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    20. A Mutant Library Approach to Identify Improved Meningococcal Factor H Binding Protein Vaccine Antigens. PLoS One. 2015; 10(6):e0128185. Konar M, Rossi R, Walter H, Pajon R, Beernink PT. PMID: 26057742; PMCID: PMC4461315.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 13     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    21. Binding of Complement Factor H (FH) Decreases Protective Anti-FH Binding Protein Antibody Responses of Infant Rhesus Macaques Immunized With a Meningococcal Serogroup B Vaccine. J Infect Dis. 2015 Sep 01; 212(5):784-92. Granoff DM, Costa I, Konar M, Giuntini S, Van Rompay KK, Beernink PT. PMID: 25676468; PMCID: PMC4539902.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 23     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    22. Heterogeneity in rhesus macaque complement factor H binding to meningococcal factor H binding protein (FHbp) informs selection of primates to assess immunogenicity of FHbp-based vaccines. Clin Vaccine Immunol. 2014 Nov; 21(11):1505-11. Beernink PT, Shaughnessy J, Stefek H, Ram S, Granoff DM. PMID: 25185576; PMCID: PMC4248754.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 14     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    23. Meningococcal factor H-binding protein vaccines with decreased binding to human complement factor H have enhanced immunogenicity in human factor H transgenic mice. Vaccine. 2013 Nov 04; 31(46):5451-7. Rossi R, Granoff DM, Beernink PT. PMID: 24035433; PMCID: PMC3867019.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 21     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    24. Does binding of complement factor H to the meningococcal vaccine antigen, factor H binding protein, decrease protective serum antibody responses? Clin Vaccine Immunol. 2013 Aug; 20(8):1099-107. Granoff DM, Ram S, Beernink PT. PMID: 23740919; PMCID: PMC3754512.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 15     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    25. Importance of inhibition of binding of complement factor H for serum bactericidal antibody responses to meningococcal factor H-binding protein vaccines. J Infect Dis. 2013 Aug 15; 208(4):627-36. Konar M, Granoff DM, Beernink PT. PMID: 23715659; PMCID: PMC3719908.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 25     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimals
    26. Design of meningococcal factor H binding protein mutant vaccines that do not bind human complement factor H. Infect Immun. 2012 Aug; 80(8):2667-77. Pajon R, Beernink PT, Granoff DM. PMID: 22615247; PMCID: PMC3434564.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 18     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    27. The effect of human factor H on immunogenicity of meningococcal native outer membrane vesicle vaccines with over-expressed factor H binding protein. PLoS Pathog. 2012; 8(5):e1002688. Beernink PT, Shaughnessy J, Pajon R, Braga EM, Ram S, Granoff DM. PMID: 22589720; PMCID: PMC3349754.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 33     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    28. Monoclonal antibodies to meningococcal factor H binding protein with overlapping epitopes and discordant functional activity. PLoS One. 2012; 7(3):e34272. Giuntini S, Beernink PT, Reason DC, Granoff DM. PMID: 22461909; PMCID: PMC3312907.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 16     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    29. A meningococcal factor H binding protein mutant that eliminates factor H binding enhances protective antibody responses to vaccination. J Immunol. 2011 Mar 15; 186(6):3606-14. Beernink PT, Shaughnessy J, Braga EM, Liu Q, Rice PA, Ram S, Granoff DM. PMID: 21325619; PMCID: PMC3098282.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 90     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    30. Effect of factor H-binding protein sequence variation on factor H binding and survival of Neisseria meningitidis in human blood. Infect Immun. 2011 Jan; 79(1):353-9. Dunphy KY, Beernink PT, Brogioni B, Granoff DM. PMID: 21041484; PMCID: PMC3019890.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 23     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    31. Impaired immunogenicity of a meningococcal factor H-binding protein vaccine engineered to eliminate factor h binding. Clin Vaccine Immunol. 2010 Jul; 17(7):1074-8. Beernink PT, Shaughnessy J, Ram S, Granoff DM. PMID: 20519444; PMCID: PMC2897264.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 19     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    32. Frequency of factor H-binding protein modular groups and susceptibility to cross-reactive bactericidal activity in invasive meningococcal isolates. Vaccine. 2010 Feb 25; 28(9):2122-9. Pajon R, Beernink PT, Harrison LH, Granoff DM. PMID: 20044056; PMCID: PMC2830318.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 42     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    33. The modular architecture of meningococcal factor H-binding protein. Microbiology (Reading). 2009 Sep; 155(Pt 9):2873-2883. Beernink PT, Granoff DM. PMID: 19574307; PMCID: PMC2859308.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 36     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    34. Meningococcal factor H-binding protein variants expressed by epidemic capsular group A, W-135, and X strains from Africa. J Infect Dis. 2009 May 01; 199(9):1360-8. Beernink PT, Caugant DA, Welsch JA, Koeberling O, Granoff DM. PMID: 19302008; PMCID: PMC2914608.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 41     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    35. A region of the N-terminal domain of meningococcal factor H-binding protein that elicits bactericidal antibody across antigenic variant groups. Mol Immunol. 2009 May; 46(8-9):1647-53. Beernink PT, LoPasso C, Angiolillo A, Felici F, Granoff D. PMID: 19286260; PMCID: PMC2673115.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 28     Fields:    Translation:Cells
    36. Fine antigenic specificity and cooperative bactericidal activity of monoclonal antibodies directed at the meningococcal vaccine candidate factor h-binding protein. Infect Immun. 2008 Sep; 76(9):4232-40. Beernink PT, Welsch JA, Bar-Lev M, Koeberling O, Comanducci M, Granoff DM. PMID: 18591239; PMCID: PMC2519416.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 54     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    37. Bactericidal antibody responses induced by meningococcal recombinant chimeric factor H-binding protein vaccines. Infect Immun. 2008 Jun; 76(6):2568-75. Beernink PT, Granoff DM. PMID: 18362128; PMCID: PMC2423104.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 43     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    38. Identification of a thermo-regulated glutamine-binding protein from Yersinia pestis. Protein Pept Lett. 2008; 15(9):887-94. Cosman M, Pesavento JB, Zemla A, Beernink PT, Balhorn R, Barsky D. PMID: 18991762.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Cells
    39. Prevalence of factor H-binding protein variants and NadA among meningococcal group B isolates from the United States: implications for the development of a multicomponent group B vaccine. J Infect Dis. 2007 May 15; 195(10):1472-9. Beernink PT, Welsch JA, Harrison LH, Leipus A, Kaplan SL, Granoff DM. PMID: 17436227; PMCID: PMC2245893.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 21     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    40. Applications of functional protein microarrays: identifying protein-protein interactions in an array format. Methods Mol Biol. 2007; 385:121-30. Coleman MA, Beernink PT, Camarero JA, Albala JS. PMID: 18365708.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 2     Fields:    Translation:Cells
    41. Rapid genetic grouping of factor h-binding protein (genome-derived neisserial antigen 1870), a promising group B meningococcal vaccine candidate. Clin Vaccine Immunol. 2006 Jul; 13(7):758-63. Beernink PT, Leipus A, Granoff DM. PMID: 16829612; PMCID: PMC1489572.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 16     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    42. Specificity of protein interactions mediated by BRCT domains of the XRCC1 DNA repair protein. J Biol Chem. 2005 Aug 26; 280(34):30206-13. Beernink PT, Hwang M, Ramirez M, Murphy MB, Doyle SA, Thelen MP. PMID: 15987676.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 25     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    43. High-throughput, fluorescence-based screening for soluble protein expression. J Proteome Res. 2004 Sep-Oct; 3(5):1024-32. Coleman MA, Lao VH, Segelke BW, Beernink PT. PMID: 15473692.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 12     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    44. Identification of chromatin-related protein interactions using protein microarrays. Proteomics. 2003 Nov; 3(11):2101-7. Coleman MA, Miller KA, Beernink PT, Yoshikawa DM, Albala JS. PMID: 14595808.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 5     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    45. Thermodynamic analysis of the dissociation of the aldolase tetramer substituted at one or both of the subunit interfaces. Biol Chem. 2003 Oct-Nov; 384(10-11):1463-71. Tolan DR, Schuler B, Beernink PT, Jaenicke R. PMID: 14669989.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 8     Fields:    Translation:Cells
    46. Spatial clustering of isozyme-specific residues reveals unlikely determinants of isozyme specificity in fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase. J Biol Chem. 2003 May 09; 278(19):17307-13. Pezza JA, Choi KH, Berardini TZ, Beernink PT, Allen KN, Tolan DR. PMID: 12611890.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 14     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    47. Application of In Vitro Protein Expression to Human Prote. ScientificWorldJournal. 2002; 2:73-74. Beernink PT, Krupka SS, Lao V, Martin G, Coleman MA. PMID: 29973809; PMCID: PMC6009240.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    
    48. Structural basis for a change in substrate specificity: crystal structure of S113E isocitrate dehydrogenase in a complex with isopropylmalate, Mg2+, and NADP. Biochemistry. 2001 Apr 10; 40(14):4234-41. Doyle SA, Beernink PT, Koshland DE. PMID: 11284679.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 5     Fields:    Translation:Cells
    49. Two divalent metal ions in the active site of a new crystal form of human apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease, Ape1: implications for the catalytic mechanism. J Mol Biol. 2001 Apr 06; 307(4):1023-34. Beernink PT, Segelke BW, Hadi MZ, Erzberger JP, Wilson DM, Rupp B. PMID: 11286553.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 71     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    50. Random circular permutation leading to chain disruption within and near alpha helices in the catalytic chains of aspartate transcarbamoylase: effects on assembly, stability, and function. Protein Sci. 2001 Mar; 10(3):528-37. Beernink PT, Yang YR, Graf R, King DS, Shah SS, Schachman HK. PMID: 11344321; PMCID: PMC2374132.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 6     Fields:    Translation:Cells
    51. Binding of bisubstrate analog promotes large structural changes in the unregulated catalytic trimer of aspartate transcarbamoylase: implications for allosteric regulation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2000 May 09; 97(10):5077-82. Endrizzi JA, Beernink PT, Alber T, Schachman HK. PMID: 10805770; PMCID: PMC25784.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 14     Fields:    
    52. Assessment of the allosteric mechanism of aspartate transcarbamoylase based on the crystalline structure of the unregulated catalytic subunit. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1999 May 11; 96(10):5388-93. Beernink PT, Endrizzi JA, Alber T, Schachman HK. PMID: 10318893; PMCID: PMC21869.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 18     Fields:    Translation:Cells
    53. Disruption of the aldolase A tetramer into catalytically active monomers. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1996 May 28; 93(11):5374-9. Beernink PT, Tolan DR. PMID: 8643582; PMCID: PMC39253.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 12     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    54. Subunit interface mutants of rabbit muscle aldolase form active dimers. Protein Sci. 1994 Sep; 3(9):1383-91. Beernink PT, Tolan DR. PMID: 7833800; PMCID: PMC2142937.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 13     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    55. Construction of a high-copy "ATG vector" for expression in Escherichia coli. Protein Expr Purif. 1992 Aug; 3(4):332-6. Beernink PT, Tolan DR. PMID: 1422227.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 6     Fields:    Translation:Cells
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