A flexible platform for preventive vaccines against deadly bacteria, using Yersinia pestis as the test case
Official title: A versatile new generation platform for prophylactic treatment against highly consequential bacterial pathogens: Yersinia pestis as a prototype
Funded at University of Texas Med Br Galveston · NIH-11605983 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new, adaptable vaccine platform is being developed to protect against highly dangerous bacteria like Yersinia pestis, the cause of plague.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Med Br Galveston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Galveston, United States) |
| Project start | September 8, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $102,600 |
| NIH project number | 3R01AI190007-01A1S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11605983 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals at risk for exposure to high-consequence bacterial pathogens or populations in need of new plague countermeasures.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not connected to areas with plague risk or not eligible for vaccine studies may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to advance a versatile vaccine platform that can be used to build protective vaccines against BSL-2/BSL-3 pathogens, starting with Yersinia pestis as a prototype. It uses a combination of antigens including F1, LcrV, and a third component YscF delivered by adenovirus and bacteriophage T4 vectors to boost immune responses in animal models. The research will test safety and protection in mice, rats, and non-human primates, with the goal of moving closer to human trials. If successful, it could shorten the path to effective vaccines against plague and related bacterial threats.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the platform could yield a prophylactic vaccine strategy that protects against plague and potentially other dangerous bacterial pathogens.
How similar studies have gone: Previous F1-V vaccine approaches showed partial protection in models; this study builds on that with a YscF addition to potentially achieve complete protection in multiple models.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Med Br Galveston
Galveston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chopra, Ashok K — University of Texas Med Br Galveston
- Study coordinator: Chopra, Ashok K
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.