Antibodies that block peanut allergic reactions
Neutralizing antibodies in food allergy
This project looks at whether certain protective antibodies help children and adults with peanut allergy stay protected after oral immunotherapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11225103 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have peanut allergy, researchers are studying antibodies made after oral immunotherapy that might keep you protected even if you stop regular peanut exposure. They collect blood and B cells from people who had lasting protection and from those who lost protection, then clone and analyze the allergen-specific antibodies. The team uses lab allergy tests and structural methods to see how these antibodies block the allergy-causing IgE from binding the peanut protein Ara h 2, and they test combinations of antibodies in lab and animal models. Their goal is to understand why only some people make these neutralizing antibodies and how that could guide new, longer-lasting treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are children or adults with IgE-mediated peanut allergy, especially those who have undergone or plan to undergo oral immunotherapy and can provide blood samples.
Not a fit: People without IgE-mediated peanut allergy or whose allergies are to foods other than peanut are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to antibody-based treatments or ways to improve oral immunotherapy so more people get lasting protection from peanut allergy.
How similar studies have performed: Oral immunotherapy commonly desensitizes patients and prior work has linked increased IgG4 to treatment, but identifying specific neutralizing antibodies and defining their structures is a newer and promising approach.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Patil, Sarita U — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Patil, Sarita U
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.