R01AI153500

Maternal Antibody-Mediated Enhancement of Dengue Pathogenesis - Abstract

Dengue virus (DENV) represents a major threat to global health. However, the precise role of the immune system in protecting against and pathogenesis of the four DENV serotypes, which share antigenic similarities and geographic ranges with each other and other closely related flaviviruses, are poorly understood.

In particular, antibodies can contribute to DENV pathogenesis by mediating antibody (Ab)-dependent enhancement of infection (ADE). This project focuses on defining the features of the anti-flavivirus Ab response that contributes to ADE vs protection using epidemiologically relevant mouse models in which DENV infection of mouse pups is enhanced by maternally acquired flavivirus Abs.

Our published and new data demonstrate that flavivirus vaccination-infection combinations can promote either pathogenesis or protection. Our preliminary data also show that mice lacking T follicular helper (Tfh) cell responses are unable to induce DENV IgG response, and that mice treated with an agonistic Ab that stimulates OX40, a T cell costimulatory molecule belonging to the TNF receptor superfamily, exhibit a boosted DENV IgG response, suggesting that the magnitude of the Tfh response correlates with the level of Ab response to DENV.

Therefore, we hypothesize that promoting Tfh responses will increase the production of broadly-neutralizing Ab (BnAb) responses that mediate protection and minimize ADE during DENV infection. We will test this hypothesis by using an RNA replicon-based vaccine platform that induces robust T cell and Ab responses in the following specific aims:

(1) Determine how vaccination with different flavivirus antigens affects Tfh cell and Ab responses in maternal mice and susceptibility to DENV ADE in their offspring.

(2) Test whether manipulation of immunization variables and candidate T cell costimulatory pathways boosts maternal Tfh cell and Ab responses and induces a protective response to DENV2 infection in offspring.

These studies will provide critical insights into the factors and mechanisms that regulate ADE vs protective immunity to DENV2 infection. This knowledge is urgently needed to inform the development of DENV vaccines that protect infants and young children, the highly vulnerable populations, and other flaviviral vaccines that are safe and effective worldwide, including in countries with co-circulation of 2 or more flaviviruses.

The proposed work is based on our strong track record in investigating humoral and cellular immune mechanisms during flavivirus infections using state-of-the-art mouse models. The project will also benefit from our collaborators' expertise in Tfh cells, T cell costimulatory molecules, flaviviral Ab response in humans, development of novel vaccine platforms, and genomics assays.

LA Jolla Institute For Immunology

TO ASSIST PUBLIC AND PRIVATE NONPROFIT INSTITUTIONS AND INDIVIDUALS TO ESTABLISH, EXPAND AND IMPROVE BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH AND RESEARCH TRAINING IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND RELATED AREAS, TO CONDUCT DEVELOPMENTAL RESEARCH, TO PRODUCE AND TEST RESEARCH MATERIALS. TO ASSIST PUBLIC, PRIVATE AND COMMERCIAL INSTITUTIONS TO CONDUCT DEVELOPMENTAL RESEARCH, TO PRODUCE AND TEST RESEARCH MATERIALS, TO PROVIDE RESEARCH SERVICES AS REQUIRED BY THE AGENCY FOR PROGRAMS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES, AND CONTROLLING DISEASE CAUSED BY INFECTIOUS OR PARASITIC AGENTS, ALLERGIC AND IMMUNOLOGIC DISEASES AND RELATED AREAS. PROJECTS RANGE FROM STUDIES OF MICROBIAL PHYSIOLOGY AND ANTIGENIC STRUCTURE TO COLLABORATIVE TRIALS OF EXPERIMENTAL DRUGS AND VACCINES, MECHANISMS OF RESISTANCE TO ANTIBIOTICS AS WELL AS RESEARCH DEALING WITH EPIDEMIOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS IN HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS OR COMMUNITY POPULATIONS AND PROGRESS IN ALLERGIC AND IMMUNOLOGIC DISEASES. BECAUSE OF THIS DUAL FOCUS, THE PROGRAM ENCOMPASSES BOTH BASIC RESEARCH AND CLINICAL RESEARCH. SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR) PROGRAM EXPANDS AND IMPROVES PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION IN BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH. THE SBIR PROGRAM INTENDS TO INCREASE AND FACILITATE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, TO INCREASE SMALL BUSINESS PARTICIPATION IN FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND TO FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION. THE SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER (STTR) PROGRAM STIMULATES AND FOSTERS SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION THROUGH COOPERATIVE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CARRIED OUT BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, TO FOSTER TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, TO INCREASE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND TO FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION. RESEARCH CAREER DEVELOPMENT AWARDS SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENTISTS DURING THE FORMATIVE STAGES OF THEIR CAREERS. INDIVIDUAL NATIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE AWARDS (NRSAS) ARE MADE DIRECTLY TO APPROVE APPLICANTS FOR RESEARCH TRAINING IN SPECIFIED BIOMEDICAL SHORTAGE AREAS. IN ADDITION, INSTITUTIONAL NATIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE AWARDS ARE MADE TO ENABLE INSTITUTIONS TO SELECT AND MAKE AWARDS TO INDIVIDUALS TO RECEIVE TRAINING UNDER THE AEGIS OF THEIR INSTITUTIONAL PROGRAM.

93.855 - Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) [HHS - NIH]

La Jolla, California 92037 United States

Single Zip Code

NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) (PA-20-185)

Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased 333% from $725,399 to $3,138,902.