Developing a dengue vaccine that safely induces protective antibodies in children
Structure based design of dengue subunit vaccines for inducing protective but not disease enhancing antibodies
This study is working on a new dengue vaccine designed to help protect children from dengue fever by safely boosting their immune system without making them sick.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11044146 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research focuses on creating a new type of dengue vaccine that aims to safely stimulate the immune system in children without causing severe disease. The approach involves designing a stable version of the dengue virus envelope protein that can effectively trigger the production of protective antibodies. By using advanced computational methods, researchers will produce these proteins in the lab and test their effectiveness in mouse models to ensure they mimic the immune responses seen in humans. The ultimate goal is to provide a safe and effective vaccine for children at risk of dengue fever.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 0-11 years who are at risk of dengue virus infection.
Not a fit: Patients who are older than 11 years or those who have already been vaccinated against dengue may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to a safe dengue vaccine that protects children from severe dengue disease.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promise in developing vaccines using similar structural approaches, indicating potential for success in this novel strategy.
Where this research is happening
Chapel Hill, United States
- Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill — Chapel Hill, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Desilva, Aravinda M. — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Desilva, Aravinda M.
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.