World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!

D-Index & Metrics

Immunology

D-Index
74
Citations
27741
World Ranking
2031
National Ranking
177

Research.com Recognitions

  • 1992 - Fellow of the Royal Society, United Kingdom

Overview

Alain Townsend is affiliated with the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. The research work focuses primarily on Medicine, with a significant emphasis on Infectious Diseases, Epidemiology, Molecular Biology, Immunology, and Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging.

The scientist has contributed extensively to the understanding of viral infections and immune responses, with key research topics including:

  • SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
  • COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies
  • Influenza Virus Research Studies
  • Respiratory viral infections research
  • Monoclonal and Polyclonal Antibodies Research
  • Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology
  • Animal Virus Infections Studies

Alain Townsend's recent notable publications are:

  • "SARS-CoV-2 Omicron-B.1.1.529 leads to widespread escape from neutralizing antibody responses", 2022, published in Cell
  • "Neutralizing nanobodies bind SARS-CoV-2 spike RBD and block interaction with ACE2", 2020, published in Nature Structural & Molecular Biology
  • "The antigenic anatomy of SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain", 2021, published in Cell
  • "Neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 by Destruction of the Prefusion Spike", 2020, published in Cell Host & Microbe
  • "Structural basis for the neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 by an antibody from a convalescent patient", 2020, published in Nature Structural & Molecular Biology

Frequent co-authors include:

  • Tiong Kit Tan
  • Pramila Rijal
  • Lisa Schimanski
  • Graham S. Ogg
  • Gathsaurie Neelika Malavige

Research publications have been frequently published in these venues:

  • bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
  • Nature Communications
  • The Journal of Immunology
  • Frontiers in Immunology
  • PLoS Pathogens

Alain Townsend was recognized as a Fellow of the Royal Society, United Kingdom, in 1992, an award that reflects contributions to the scientific community.

Best Publications

  • The epitopes of influenza nucleoprotein recognized by cytotoxic T lymphocytes can be defined with short synthetic peptides

    A.R.M. Townsend;J. Rothbard;F.M. Gotch;G. Bahadur

  • SARS-CoV-2 Omicron-B.1.1.529 leads to widespread escape from neutralizing antibody responses

    Unknown

  • Association of class I major histocompatibility heavy and light chains induced by viral peptides.

    Alain Townsend;Claes Öhlén;Judy Bastin;Hans-Gustaf Ljunggren

  • Empty MHC class I molecules come out in the cold

    H G Ljunggren;N J Stam;C Ohlén;J J Neefjes

  • Sequences encoded in the class II region of the MHC related to the 'ABC' superfamily of transporters

    J Trowsdale;I Hanson;I Mockridge;S Beck

  • Cytotoxic T cells recognize fragments of the influenza nucleoprotein.

    Alain R.M. Townsend;Frances M. Gotch;John Davey

  • Molecular analysis of the association of HLA-B53 and resistance to severe malaria.

    A V Hill;J Elvin;A C Willis;M Aidoo

  • Assembly of MHC class I molecules analyzed in vitro.

    A. Townsend;T. Elliott;V. Cerundolo;L. Foster

  • HIV-1 gag-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes defined with recombinant vaccinia virus and synthetic peptides

    Douglas F. Nixon;Alain R. M. Townsend;John G. Elvin;Charles R. Rizza

  • Cytotoxic T lymphocytes recognize a fragment of influenza virus matrix protein in association with HLA-A2.

    Frances Gotch;Jonathan Rothbard;Kevin Howland;Alain Townsend

  • Assembly and function of the two ABC transporter proteins encoded in the human major histocompatibility complex.

    Adrian Kelly;Stephen H. Powis;Lesley-Anne Kerr;Ian Mockridge

  • Neutralizing nanobodies bind SARS-CoV-2 spike RBD and block interaction with ACE2.

    J Huo;J Huo;A Le Bas;A Le Bas;R R Ruza;Duyvesteyn Hme.

  • Presentation of viral antigen controlled by a gene in the major histocompatibility complex.

    V Cerundolo;J Alexander;K Anderson;C Lamb

  • Memory T cells established by seasonal human influenza A infection cross-react with avian influenza A (H5N1) in healthy individuals

    Lee Ly-H.;Ha Dla.;C Simmons;C Simmons;de Jong

  • A peptide encoded by human gene MAGE-3 and presented by HLA-A2 induces cytolytic T lymphocytes that recognize tumor cells expressing MAGE-3.

    P van der Bruggen;J Bastin;T Gajewski;T Gajewski;P G Coulie

  • Restoration of antigen presentation to the mutant cell line RMA-S by an MHC-linked transporter

    Simon J. Powis;Alain R. M. Townsend;Edward V. Deverson;Judy Bastin

  • Presentation of viral antigen by MHC class I molecules is dependent on a putative peptide transporter heterodimer

    Thomas Spies;Vincenzo Cerundolo;Marco Colonna;Peter Cresswell

  • Defective presentation to class I-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocytes in vaccinia-infected cells is overcome by enhanced degradation of antigen.

    A. Townsend;J. Bastin;K. Gould;G. Brownlee

  • The antigenic anatomy of SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain.

    Wanwisa Dejnirattisai;Daming Zhou;Helen M. Ginn;Helen M.E. Duyvesteyn

  • Cytotoxic T cell recognition of the influenza nucleoprotein and hemagglutinin expressed in transfected mouse L cells

    A.R.M. Townsend;A.J. McMichael;N.P. Carter;J.A. Huddleston

  • Hepcidin regulation by innate immune and infectious stimuli

    Andrew E. Armitage;Lucy A. Eddowes;Uzi Gileadi;Suzanne Cole

Frequent Co-Authors

Vincenzo Cerundolo
Vincenzo Cerundolo University of Oxford
Miles W. Carroll
Miles W. Carroll University of Oxford
Raymond J. Owens
Raymond J. Owens University of Oxford
Juthathip Mongkolsapaya
Juthathip Mongkolsapaya University of Oxford
Tim Elliott
Tim Elliott University of Southampton
Andrew J. McMichael
Andrew J. McMichael University of Oxford
William James
William James University of Oxford
David I. Stuart
David I. Stuart University of Oxford
Jingshan Ren
Jingshan Ren University of Oxford
John W. McCauley
John W. McCauley The Francis Crick Institute

If you think any of the details on this page are incorrect, let us know.

Report an issue

We appreciate your kind effort to assist us to improve this page, it would be helpful providing us with as much detail as possible in the text box below:

Related Online Degrees & Career Pathways

Studying Immunology in the USA opens various career opportunities in healthcare and research. Many students complement their immunology background with nursing degrees, which provide practical skills for patient care and help advance their careers. For those looking to enter nursing quickly, programs like lpn programs with easiest admission requirements offer a simple pathway to become licensed practical nurses.

Advancing in nursing often involves becoming a Nurse Practitioner. Some students pursue the easiest fnp program to balance rigorous coursework with family or work commitments. Family Nurse Practitioner programs can serve as a solid foundation for those interested in immunological health issues at various patient care levels.

For a more specialized focus, Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) programs provide clinical expertise in mental health—a field closely linked to immunological responses. Prospective students might explore the top online pmhnp programs to secure excellent clinical placement opportunities during their studies.

Cost is a significant consideration when selecting a degree. Those motivated to enter psychiatric nursing without high financial burden can consider cheap psych np programs, which provide quality education at a lower price point. These pathways enable graduates to impact immunology-related mental health conditions effectively.

Best Scientists Citing Alain Townsend

Trending Scientists

Recently Published Articles