The Matoba Laboratory of Biopharmaceutical Research
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About
The Matoba Lab focuses on the design and engineering of recombinant proteins as novel therapeutics for cancer, infectious diseases, and mucosal inflammatory disorders. Using advanced protein engineering techniques, we aim to enhance drug efficacy, stability, and target specificity.
A key area of our research involves the development of immunotherapeutic proteins that selectively bind to clustering high-mannose glycans – biomarkers commonly found in tumors and certain viral infections. We are also developing a mucosally deliverable biologic intended to promote tissue repair in inflammatory bowel disease and other mucosal inflammatory conditions.
Beyond discovery research, the lab has extensive experience in translational drug development, including the design and qualification of preclinical and clinical assays that have supported Phase I clinical trials for antiviral biologics.
Through these diverse research activities, the Matoba Lab remains committed to advancing biopharmaceutical innovation and translating scientific discoveries into life-saving therapies.
Key Research Areas
- Biopharmaceutical protein engineering and development
- Immunotherapy targeting tumor-associated glycans
- Therapeutics for mucosal healing and inflammatory diseases
- Preclinical and clinical biopharmaceutical development
Current Projects
- Structural and Functional Mechanisms of AvFc Lectibody as a Glycan-Targeting Cancer Immunotherapy
- Preclinical Development of EPICERTIN Oral Biotherapeutic for Mucosal Wound Healing
- Additional current projects can be found here.
Team
- Kathleen Kitterman, MS – Laboratory Manager, kathleen.kitterman@louisville.edu
- Wendy Cecil, MS – Graduate Student, wendy.cecil@louisville.edu
- Katarina Mayer, MS – Graduate Student | katarina.mayer@louisville.edu
- Jimmy Cifuentes, MS, DVM – Graduate Student | jimmy.cifuentes@louisville.edu
- Ian Santisteban Celis, BS – Graduate Student | ian.santisteban@louisville.edu
Recent Publications
- Verjan Garcia N, Cifuentes JF, Reeves MA, Hwang JY, Park JW, Galandiuk S, Matoba N. (2026) EPICERTIN, an engineered variant of cholera toxin B subunit, promotes survival and a pro-remodeling macrophage phenotype for mucosal healing in colitis. Mucosal Immunol in press.
- Kittle WM, Reeves MA, Fulkerson AE, Hamorsky KT, Morris DA, Kitterman KT, Marchant ML, Matoba N*. (2025) Preclinical Long-Term Stability and Forced Degradation Assessment of EPICERTIN, a Mucosal Healing Biotherapeutic for Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Pharmaceutics17(2), 259.
- Santisteban I, Matoba N. (2024) Lectibodies as antivirals. Antiviral Res 227:105901.
- Verjan Garcia N, Santisteban I, Dent M, Matoba N. (2023) Characterization and utility of two monoclonal antibodies to cholera toxin B subunit. Sci Rep 13, 4305.
- Dent M, Mayer KL, Verjan Garcia N, Guo H, Kajiura H, Fujiyama K, Matoba N. (2022) Impact of glycoengineering and anti-drug antibodies on the anti-cancer activity of a plant-made lectin-Fc fusion protein. Plant Biotechnol J 20(11):2217-2230.
- Oh YJ, Dent MW, Zhou Q, Freels AR, Merchant ML, Lebrilla C, Matoba N. (2022) Antitumor activity of a lectibody targeting cancer-associated high-mannose glycans. Mol Ther 30(4):1523-1535.
- Additional publications can be found here.