R01AI169461

Human Antibody Cross-Reactivity in Non-Polio Enteroviruses - Project Summary

Manifestations of enterovirus infections are variable, with several severe illnesses such as meningitis, acute flaccid myelitis (AFM), myocarditis, and neonatal sepsis.

Poliovirus vaccines are near perfect at preventing severe illness by generating strong, circulating antibody responses. However, the polioviruses represent only three of the more than 100 enteroviruses capable of causing human disease. Recently approved vaccines for enterovirus A71 are demonstrating that other enterovirus diseases, in this case hand, foot, and mouth disease, can be prevented by vaccination as well.

Our previous work shows that monoclonal antibodies that cross-react to all clades of enterovirus D68 can protect infected mice from AFM-like disease, and even treat disease after onset. Rather than try to make 100 vaccines to cover each enterovirus, we propose to understand the qualities of the human antibody response that could provide cross-reactive immunity across many enteroviruses. With this knowledge, immunogens can be designed that preserve the B cell epitopes that stimulate cross-reactive antibodies.

We first aim to determine the degree of cross-reactivity of enterovirus antibody responses at a B cell level. We will complement seroepidemiology studies of hundreds of healthy adults, looking to see what proportion of them have naturally made antibody responses to the four species of enterovirus, with studies of stimulated memory B cells from the peripheral blood mononuclear cell compartment. The latter will allow us to see how many individual B cells in healthy adults produce antibodies that cross-react between enterovirus species, a knowledge gap with no existing data.

Second, we aim to determine the molecular details of enterovirus species cross-reactivity using human monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). We will create human hybridomas that produce MAbs, screening and selecting for MAbs that bind to multiple enteroviruses. Antigen-binding fragments of the MAbs, in complex with virions from all immune-reactive enteroviruses, will be used for cryo-electron microscopy studies to obtain atomic resolution maps of antibody epitopes, detailing at a molecular level the determinants of cross-reactivity.

Third, we aim to determine mechanisms of antibody action utilizing human primary cell infection models. As we investigate which stage of the viral life cycle different MAbs disrupt to exert function, using ex vivo differentiated human epithelial cell cultures will preserve the natural cell surface receptors used by viruses during in vivo human infection. The knowledge gained from these studies will allow detailed understanding of how cross-reactive antibodies bind to enteroviruses and how they function. In turn, the MAbs can be used to functionally validate that candidate immunogens preserve these cross-reactive B cell epitopes.

Finally, some MAbs could later have potential for direct use in humans, either as prophylactic or therapeutic agents. This is an especially important consideration for populations such as the immunocompromised, who may not be able to generate strong antibody responses upon vaccination.

University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill

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]

Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599 United States

Single Zip Code

Basic Research to Inform Vaccine and Therapeutic Development for Non-Polio Human Enteroviruses (NPEV) (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) (RFA-AI-21-006)

Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased 380% from $653,847 to $3,140,706.