Antibodies designed to block and clear Staphylococcus aureus
Engineering monoclonal antibodies against Staphylococcus aureus
This project is making lab-grown antibodies for adults to block Staph aureus from hiding from the immune system and help the body clear dangerous infections like sepsis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11298173 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's view, researchers are building monoclonal antibodies that latch onto two surface proteins on Staphylococcus aureus called SpA and ClfA. They are changing parts of the antibody that interact with human immune components so the bacteria cannot block antibody function and so the immune system can better tag and remove bacteria. The team will test these engineered antibodies in laboratory and preclinical models to see if they enhance complement activation and phagocyte clearance. The work follows prior lessons that focusing only on toxins or capsules was not enough, and it aims to produce antibodies that work across many clinical strains.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be adults at high risk for or with a history of serious Staphylococcus aureus infections, such as recurrent skin infections, invasive disease, or hospitalized patients prone to sepsis.
Not a fit: Children, people with infections caused by non-Staphylococcus pathogens, or infections from strains that do not display the targeted surface proteins may not benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to antibody treatments that prevent or reduce severe Staph infections and sepsis in adults.
How similar studies have performed: Previous clinical attempts targeting toxins or capsules largely failed, so targeting conserved surface proteins and engineering the antibody Fc region is a newer strategy with promising preclinical but limited clinical evidence so far.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, United States
- University of Chicago — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Missiakas, Dominique — University of Chicago
- Study coordinator: Missiakas, Dominique
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 below.