Uploaded May 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
With their lovable fluffy faces, generally docile demeanor and gangly, four-beat gait, alpacas are having a moment in popular culture. But the camelid mammals, native to South America, possess a unique super power.
“These animals, which are part of the Camelidae family, like camels and llamas, have a unique class of antibodies called Heavy Chain-only Antibodies or ‘hcAbs,’” says Utah State University undergraduate researcher James Cisneros. “These are more stable than conventional antibodies, such as human antibodies, and smaller, which enables them to penetrate tissues more effectively and reach epitopes that are inaccessible to conventional antibodies, such as enzyme-active sites, viral crevices or intracellular targets.”
With faculty mentor Zhongde Wang, professor in USU’s Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences, Cisneros and doctoral student Julio Landinez Aponte are attempting to genetically engineer these alpaca hcAbs to combat such human diseases as cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and viral infections.
“It’s a long process that requires repeated trials and perseverance,” says Cisneros, a human biology major and recipient of a Utah System of Higher Education Student Success Scholarship. “And there was a huge learning curve for me at first, as I learned to use specialized microscopes and micromanipulators to perform assisted reproduction techniques, such as somatic cell nuclear transfer or ‘cloning,’ and pronuclear injection.”
Cisneros says he loves the “culture of research” at Utah State and the opportunity to work with supportive mentors.
“Research is hard, you hit walls and you fail over and over again,” says the Salt Lake County native. “Most of the time you get it wrong, but you keep trying. The percentage of time you succeed is low, but when you do succeed, it’s big. Really big.”
–––––––––––
Since 1888, Utah State University established itself as a premier research institution known through the world for its intellectual and technological leadership. USU’s main campus is in Logan, plus 30 campuses throughout Utah. And as long as WiFi is available, you can be an Aggie anywhere through USU Online.
USU competes in 16 NCAA Division I sports. Our student section, the HURD, is one of the loudest and rowdiest in the nation. The diehards become True Aggies by kissing on the block “A” on Homecoming. Adrenaline junkies sled down Old Main hill between classes or rock climb outside. And everyone eats Aggie Ice Cream — even with a foot of snow on the ground.
#7 Best Bang for the Buck in the West - Washington Monthly
#8 Public University in the Nation - Washington Monthly
#11 Best Online Bachelor's Program - U.S. News & World Report
There’s a place for you at Utah State. Join us.
https://usu.edu/admissions/aggielife/
Follow Us
FB: facebook.com/UtahState
IG: instagram.com/USUAggielife
TW: twitter.com/USUAggies
USU is committed to a learning and working environment free from discrimination. For USU’s non-discrimination notice, see equity.usu.edu/non-discrimination.
With their lovable fluffy faces, generally docile demeanor and gangly, four-beat gait, alpacas are having a moment in popular culture. But the camelid mammals, native to South America, possess a unique super power.
“These animals, which are part of the Camelidae family, like camels and llamas, have a unique class of antibodies called Heavy Chain-only Antibodies or ‘hcAbs,’” says Utah State University undergraduate researcher James Cisneros. “These are more stable than conventional antibodies, such as human antibodies, and smaller, which enables them to penetrate tissues more effectively and reach epitopes that are inaccessible to conventional antibodies, such as enzyme-active sites, viral crevices or intracellular targets.”
With faculty mentor Zhongde Wang, professor in USU’s Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences, Cisneros and doctoral student Julio Landinez Aponte are attempting to genetically engineer these alpaca hcAbs to combat such human diseases as cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and viral infections.
“It’s a long process that requires repeated trials and perseverance,” says Cisneros, a human biology major and recipient of a Utah System of Higher Education Student Success Scholarship. “And there was a huge learning curve for me at first, as I learned to use specialized microscopes and micromanipulators to perform assisted reproduction techniques, such as somatic cell nuclear transfer or ‘cloning,’ and pronuclear injection.”
Cisneros says he loves the “culture of research” at Utah State and the opportunity to work with supportive mentors.
“Research is hard, you hit walls and you fail over and over again,” says the Salt Lake County native. “Most of the time you get it wrong, but you keep trying. The percentage of time you succeed is low, but when you do succeed, it’s big. Really big.”
–––––––––––
Since 1888, Utah State University established itself as a premier research institution known through the world for its intellectual and technological leadership. USU’s main campus is in Logan, plus 30 campuses throughout Utah. And as long as WiFi is available, you can be an Aggie anywhere through USU Online.
USU competes in 16 NCAA Division I sports. Our student section, the HURD, is one of the loudest and rowdiest in the nation. The diehards become True Aggies by kissing on the block “A” on Homecoming. Adrenaline junkies sled down Old Main hill between classes or rock climb outside. And everyone eats Aggie Ice Cream — even with a foot of snow on the ground.
#7 Best Bang for the Buck in the West - Washington Monthly
#8 Public University in the Nation - Washington Monthly
#11 Best Online Bachelor's Program - U.S. News & World Report
There’s a place for you at Utah State. Join us.
https://usu.edu/admissions/aggielife/
Follow Us
FB: facebook.com/UtahState
IG: instagram.com/USUAggielife
TW: twitter.com/USUAggies
USU is committed to a learning and working environment free from discrimination. For USU’s non-discrimination notice, see equity.usu.edu/non-discrimination.
