Cross-protective vaccine approach to prevent Leptospira infection
Official title: Developing Cross Protective Vaccine to Control Leptospira Infection
Funded at University of Tennessee Knoxville · NIH-11354825 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research project aims to create a vaccine that protects people and animals from multiple Leptospira strains.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Tennessee Knoxville NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Knoxville, United States) |
| Project start | June 2, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $200,233 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AI199507-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11354825 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals or animal populations at risk of leptospirosis or communities in endemic areas where exposure to contaminated water or animals is common.
✕Less likely to help
People not at risk or in settings with no exposure to Leptospira would not directly benefit.
What this research studies
Leptospirosis is a major zoonotic disease affecting humans and animals, often caused by many different Leptospira strains. The project uses reverse and structural vaccinology to identify conserved protein epitopes that the immune system can recognize. Researchers will test surface-exposed epitopes with high-throughput screening and then evaluate protective effects in hamster and mouse models. If successful, this work could lead toward a broadly protective vaccine that reduces illness and transmission in both humans and animals.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the vaccine could provide broad protection against diverse Leptospira strains, reducing disease in people and animals.
How similar studies have gone: Previous vaccines have shown partial protection; this project aims for broader cross-strain protection using conserved epitopes.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Tennessee Knoxville
Knoxville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rajeev, Sreekumari — University of Tennessee Knoxville
- Study coordinator: Rajeev, Sreekumari
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.