Micro Analytical Immunochemistry

Our unit employs a variety of techniques to isolate, identify and quantitate proteins, peptides, lipids, antibodies and other biological molecules of interest. The unit currently has a range of active projects using MALDI-TOF, single and multiplex ELISA and ICP-OES spectroscopy, including:

Using a QuansysTM imaging system to screen for up to 16 analytes from a single 50 mL sample using a multiplex ELISA
Automated ELISA system currently being used to determine seropositivity in whole blood, serum and plasma samples, including nucleocapsid testing to discriminate between native or immunized seropositivity. 96 and 384 well formats can be run.
Determining the mass of biological and chemical compounds using MALDI-TOF
MALDI-TOF imaging of frozen tissue samples to provide spatial resolution of molecules of interest, extracting unknown samples from the imaged tissues and identifying proteins, peptides and lipids using LC/MS.
Quantifying trace metals in chemical and biological samples down to a ppb level

We are located in Building 13 on the NIH campus.

Multianalyte ELISA arrays using QuansysTM imaging system
Automated ELISA assays for SARS-COV-2 seropositivity
MALDI-TOF analysis of chemical and biological molecules
MALDI-TOF imaging of tissue samples
Surface liquid extraction (SELEX) from tissue samples for analysis and identification of unknown proteins, peptides, and lipids using LC/MS
Trace metal analysis in biological samples, via Inductively-Coupled-Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES)
Micro-immunoaffinity capillary electrophoresis to quantify analyte concentrations in biological samples

Heather R Kalish

The effect of personality on likelihood of contracting SARS-CoV-2 in the United States.

Wood JKWeston SJCondon DMKalish HKlumpp-Thomas CBaus HAWang JMehalko JTravers JPauly KCroker JALi YCzajkowski LChairez CSnead KHan AGiurgea LTRosas LABean RAthota RCervantes-Medina ACaldararo RKolberg MMKelly ASimon RShafiq SReed SFord EWMichael SGKimberly RPReis SEEsposito DMemoli MJ

Pers Individ Dif

2026 Mar

Intramolecular loops control SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein self-association and nucleic acid binding dependent on phosphorylation.

Nguyen ADatta SAKTrent CWu DSaleem ZSzczesna EOwoborode FLi YAdly ANKalish HRPiszczek GMorgan DOSchuck PZhao H

bioRxiv

2026 Jan 12

Genome-Wide Association Study Identifies Genetic Loci for Antibody Response to SARS-CoV-2 Vaccines in Patients With Systemic Autoimmune Diseases and Healthy Individuals.

Kim KClaybaugh DPatino-Martinez ETemesgen-Oyelakin YPoncio EChu JDavis MFike ARuiz-Perdomo YOnyechi JBeach MHoward LPelayo ESpencer NSully MVolochayev RKelly SPorche SLewandowski LBFranco LMManna ZGupta SHutchinson AMirabello LVij VQuinn KAGrayson PCSchiffenbauer ARider LGPinal-Fernandez IMammen ALKalish HRWaldman MAWarner BHasni SChanock SJKaplan MJ

J Rheumatol

2026 Apr 01

GWAS identifies genetic loci for antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in patients with systemic autoimmune diseases and healthy individuals.

medRxiv

2025 May 16

Immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination in people with idiopathic CD4 lymphopenia.

Rocco JMBoswell KLLaidlaw EEpling BAnderson MSerebryannyy LNarpala SO'Connell SKalish HKelly SPorche SOguz CMcDermott AManion MKoup RALisco ASereti I

J Allergy Clin Immunol

2024 Feb

Dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence in a Large US population Over a Period of 12 Months.

Karkanitsa MLi YValenti SSpathies JKelly SHunsberger SYee LCroker JAWang JAlfonso ALFaust MMehalko JDrew MDenson JPPutman ZFathi PNgo TBSiripong NBaus HAPetersen BFord EWSundaresan VJosyula AHan AGiurgea LTRosas LABean RAthota RCzajkowski LKlumpp-Thomas CCervantes-Medina AGouzoulis MReed SGraubard BHall MDKalish HEsposito DKimberly RPReis SSadtler KMemoli MJ

medRxiv

2023 Oct 21

Characterization of the antispike IgG immune response to COVID-19 vaccines in people with a wide variety of immunodeficiencies.

Zendt MBustos Carrillo FAKelly SSaturday TDeGrange MGinigeme AWu LCallier VOrtega-Villa AFaust MChang-Rabley EBugal KKenney HKhil PYoun JHOsei GRegmi PAnderson VBosticardo MDaub JDiMaggio TKreuzburg SPala FPfister JTreat JUlrick JKarkanitsa MKalish HKuhns DBPriel DLFink DLTsang JSSparks RUzel GWaldman MAZerbe CSDelmonte OMBergerson JREDas SFreeman AFLionakis MSSadtler Kvan Doremalen NMunster VNotarangelo LDHolland SMRicotta EE

Sci Adv

2023 Oct 13

Adaptive immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 persist in the pharyngeal lymphoid tissue of children.

Xu QMilanez-Almeida PMartins AJRadtke AJHoehn KBOguz CChen JLiu CTang JGrubbs GStein SRamelli SKabat JBehzadpour HKarkanitsa MSpathies JKalish HKardava LKirby MCheung FPreite SDuncker PCKitakule MMRomero NPreciado DGitman LKoroleva GSmith GShaffer AMcBain ITMcGuire PJPittaluga SGermain RNApps RSchwartz DMSadtler KMoir SChertow DSKleinstein SHKhurana STsang JSMudd PSchwartzberg PLManthiram K

Nat Immunol

2023 Jan

Clinical, Virologic, and Immunologic Evaluation of Symptomatic Coronavirus Disease 2019 Rebound Following Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir Treatment.

Epling BPRocco JMBoswell KLLaidlaw EGalindo FKellogg ADas SRoder AGhedin EKreitman ADewar RLKelly SEMKalish HRehman THighbarger JRupert AKocher GHolbrook MRLisco AManion MKoup RASereti I

Clin Infect Dis

2023 Feb 18

Examining multi-level immune response to determine prevalence of COVID-19 in pediatric tonsillectomy.

Mudd PRomero NBehzadpour HXu QRana MSGitman LPreciado DKarkanitsa MSpathies JSadtler KKalish HSchwartzberg PLManthiram K

Laryngoscope

2023 Aug

Comprehensive profiling of the human viral exposome in households containing an at-risk child with mitochondrial disease during the 2020-2021 COVID-19 pandemic.

Gordon-Lipkin EMMarcum CSKruk SThompson EKelly SEMKalish HBellusci LKhurana SSadtler KMcGuire PJ

Clin Transl Med

2022 Nov

Interval between prior SARS-CoV-2 infection and booster vaccination impacts magnitude and quality of antibody and B cell responses.

Buckner CMKardava LEl Merhebi ONarpala SRSerebryannyy LLin BCWang WZhang XLopes de Assis FKelly SEMTeng ITMcCormack GEPraiss LHSeamon CARai MAKalish HKwong PDProschan MAMcDermott ABFauci ASChun TWMoir S

Cell

2022 Nov 10

Recent SARS-CoV-2 infection abrogates antibody and B-cell responses to booster vaccination.

Buckner CMKardava LMerhebi OENarpala SRSerebryannyy LLin BCWang WZhang Xde Assis FLKelly SEMTeng ITMcCormack GEPraiss LHSeamon CARai MAKalish HKwong PDProschan MAMcDermott ABFauci ASChun TWMoir S

medRxiv

2022 Aug 31

COVID-19 redux: clinical, virologic, and immunologic evaluation of clinical rebound after nirmatrelvir/ritonavir.

Epling BPRocco JMBoswell KLLaidlaw EGalindo FKellogg ADas SRoder AGhedin EKreitman ADewar RLKelly SEMKalish HRehman THighbarger JRupert AKocher GHolbrook MRLisco AManion MKoup RASereti I

medRxiv

2022 Jun 17

Undiagnosed COVID-19 in households with a child with mitochondrial disease.

Gordon-Lipkin EMMarcum CKruk SThompson EKelly SEMKalish HSadtler KMcGuire PJ

medRxiv

2022 Mar 23

Robust, persistent adaptive immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 in the oropharyngeal lymphoid tissue of children.

Xu QMilanez-Almeida PMartins AJRadtke AJHoehn KBChen JLiu CTang JGrubbs GStein SRamelli SKabat JBehzadpour HKarkanitsa MSpathies JKalish HKardava LKirby MCheung FPreite SDuncker PCRomero NPreciado DGitman LKoroleva GSmith GShaffer AMcBain ITPittaluga SGermain RNApps RSadtler KMoir SChertow DSKleinstein SHKhurana STsang JSMudd PSchwartzberg PLManthiram K

Res Sq

2022 Mar 23

Lung epithelial and endothelial damage, loss of tissue repair, inhibition of fibrinolysis, and cellular senescence in fatal COVID-19.

D'Agnillo FWalters KAXiao YSheng ZMScherler KPark JGygli SRosas LASadtler KKalish HBlatti CAZhu RGatzke LBushell CMemoli MJO'Day SJFischer TDHammond TCLee RCCash JCPowers MEO'Keefe GEButnor KJRapkiewicz AVTravis WDLayne SPKash JCTaubenberger JK

Sci Transl Med

2021 Nov 17

SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence and Drug Use in Trauma Patients from Six Sites in the United States.

Ngo TBKarkanitsa MAdusei KMGraham LARicotta EEDarrah JRBlomberg RDSpathies JPauly KJKlumpp-Thomas CTravers JMehalko JDrew MHall MDMemoli MJEsposito DKozar RAGriggs CCunningham KWSchulman CICrandall MNeavyn MDorfman JDLai JTWhitehill JMBabu KMMohr NMVan Heukelom JFell JCRooke WKalish HThomas FDSadtler K

medRxiv

2021 Aug 11

Undiagnosed SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity during the first 6 months of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.

Kalish HKlumpp-Thomas CHunsberger SBaus HAFay MPSiripong NWang JHicks JMehalko JTravers JDrew MPauly KSpathies JNgo TAdusei KMKarkanitsa MCroker JALi YGraubard BICzajkowski LBelliveau OChairez CSnead KRFrank PShunmugavel AHan AGiurgea LTRosas LABean RAthota RCervantes-Medina AGouzoulis MHeffelfinger BValenti SCaldararo RKolberg MMKelly ASimon RShafiq SWall VReed SFord EWLokwani RDenson JPMessing SMichael SGGillette WKimberly RPReis SEHall MDEsposito DMemoli MJSadtler K

Sci Transl Med

2021 Jul 07

Serologic Cross-Reactivity of SARS-CoV-2 with Endemic and Seasonal Betacoronaviruses.

Hicks JKlumpp-Thomas CKalish HShunmugavel AMehalko JDenson JPSnead KRDrew MCorbett KSGraham BSHall MDMemoli MJEsposito DSadtler K

J Clin Immunol

2021 Jul

Mapping a Pandemic: SARS-CoV-2 Seropositivity in the United States.

Kalish HKlumpp-Thomas CHunsberger SBaus HAFay MPSiripong NWang JHicks JMehalko JTravers JDrew MPauly KSpathies JNgo TAdusei KMKarkanitsa MCroker JALi YGraubard BICzajkowski LBelliveau OChairez CSnead KFrank PShunmugavel AHan AGiurgea LTRosas LABean RAthota RCervantes-Medina AGouzoulis MHeffelfinger BValenti SCaldararo RKolberg MMKelly ASimon RShafiq SWall VReed SFord EWLokwani RDenson JPMessing SMichael SGGillette WKimberly RPReis SEHall MDEsposito DMemoli MJSadtler K

medRxiv

2021 Jan 31

Standardization of ELISA protocols for serosurveys of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic using clinical and at-home blood sampling.

Klumpp-Thomas CKalish HDrew MHunsberger SSnead KFay MPMehalko JShunmugavel AWall VFrank PDenson JPHong MGulten GMessing SHicks JMichael SGillette WHall MDMemoli MJEsposito DSadtler K

Nat Commun

2021 Jan 04

Effect of D614G Spike Variant on Immunoglobulin G, M, or A Spike Seroassay Performance.

Klumpp-Thomas CKalish HHicks JMehalko JDrew MMemoli MJHall MDEsposito DSadtler K

J Infect Dis

2021 Mar 03

D614G Spike Variant Does Not Alter IgG, IgM, or IgA Spike Seroassay Performance.

Klumpp-Thomas CKalish HHicks JMehalko JDrew MMemoli MJHall MDEsposito DSadtler K

medRxiv

2020 Jul 10

Serologic cross-reactivity of SARS-CoV-2 with endemic and seasonal Betacoronaviruses.

Hicks JKlumpp-Thomas CKalish HShunmugavel AMehalko JDenson JPSnead KDrew MCorbett KGraham BHall MDMemoli MJEsposito DSadtler K

medRxiv

2020 Jun 23

Standardization of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for serosurveys of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic using clinical and at-home blood sampling.

Klumpp-Thomas CKalish HDrew MHunsberger SSnead KFay MPMehalko JShunmugavel AWall VFrank PDenson JPHong MGulten GMessing SHicks JMichael SGillette WHall MDMemoli MEsposito DSadtler K

medRxiv

2020 May 25

Glutathione-Responsive Self-Assembled Magnetic Gold Nanowreath for Enhanced Tumor Imaging and Imaging-Guided Photothermal Therapy.

Liu YYang ZHuang XYu GWang SZhou ZShen ZFan WLiu YDavisson MKalish HNiu GNie ZChen X

ACS Nano

2018 Aug 28

Suppressing Nanoparticle-Mononuclear Phagocyte System Interactions of Two-Dimensional Gold Nanorings for Improved Tumor Accumulation and Photothermal Ablation of Tumors.

Liu YWang ZLiu YZhu GJacobson OFu XBai RLin XLu NYang XFan WSong JWang ZYu GZhang FKalish HNiu GNie ZChen X

ACS Nano

2017 Oct 24

Importance of the REM (Ras exchange) domain for membrane interactions by RasGRP3.

Czikora AKedei NKalish HBlumberg PM