Dengue virus testing and antibody lab
CORE B: Viral Assays Core
It creates lab tests to measure dengue antibodies in people to better understand immunity and help guide safer, more effective vaccines.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Berkeley NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Berkeley, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11111753 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This UC Berkeley core builds and provides advanced lab tools that map how people’s antibodies react to the four dengue types. The team uses panels of dengue viruses, engineered chimeric viruses, epitope‑modified viruses, and NanoLuc reporter systems to run many tests from small amounts of blood. They run these standardized assays on serum and monoclonal antibodies from vaccine recipients and naturally infected people and share reagents with the program’s research projects. This work helps pinpoint which antibody features relate to protection or harmful enhancement after dengue exposure or vaccination.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who have had dengue or who are enrolled in dengue vaccine studies, as well as volunteers willing to give blood samples, are the best candidates to contribute to this work.
Not a fit: People without dengue exposure and those not involved in dengue vaccine or sample-collection efforts are unlikely to see direct benefits from this core's assays in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: More precise antibody tests could help create dengue vaccines that protect across serotypes and reduce severe disease.
How similar studies have performed: Related virus panels and reporter assays have successfully mapped dengue antibody responses before, but a reliable immune correlate of protection for dengue has not yet been established.
Where this research is happening
Berkeley, United States
- University of California Berkeley — Berkeley, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Baric, Ralph S — University of California Berkeley
- Study coordinator: Baric, Ralph S
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.