Bifidobacterium infantis in infancy to boost immunity for babies exposed to HIV
Official title: Bifidobacterium infantis supplementation in early life to improve immunity in infants exposed to HIV: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial
Funded at Seattle Children's Hospital · NIH-11474044 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A small trial will test whether giving a probiotic B. infantis to breastfed infants exposed to HIV but uninfected can help boost their developing immune system.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Seattle Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2022 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $84,542 |
| NIH project number | 3R01HD109089-05S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11474044 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Breastfed, HIV-exposed but uninfected infants in South Africa, enrolled in early life.
✕Less likely to help
Infants not exposed to HIV or not meeting breastfeeding criteria may not benefit from this specific intervention.
What this research studies
Infants exposed to HIV but not infected can have weaker immunity and altered gut bacteria. In this study, 200 such infants in South Africa will be randomly assigned to receive either Bifidobacterium longum subspecies infantis or a placebo during early life, with researchers and participants blinded to group assignment. The team will monitor gut microbes and metabolism over time using stool samples and advanced sequencing and metabolomics techniques. Outcomes will focus on immune-related changes and potential links to health later in childhood. This research could point to a simple, safe way to support immunity in a vulnerable population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could lead to a practical probiotic strategy to improve immunity and health in infants exposed to HIV.
How similar studies have gone: Prior evidence suggests B. infantis can influence gut microbiota and immunity, but this exact birth-to-immunity link in iHEU is being tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Seattle Children's Hospital
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jaspan, Heather Beryl — Seattle Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Jaspan, Heather Beryl
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.