Developing a new treatment to prevent severe infections from Rickettsia bacteria
Official title: Factor H-Fc Fusion as a Pre-Exposure Prophylactic for Rickettsia Infections
Funded at Planet Biotechnology, INC. · NIH-11013481 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new treatment that aims to help protect people from serious infections caused by Rickettsia, which are spread by insect bites, by boosting the immune system's ability to fight off these bacteria.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 1 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Planet Biotechnology, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hayward, United States) |
| Project start | July 10, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $300,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R43AI186978-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11013481 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals at high risk of Rickettsia infections, such as those living in endemic areas or those with occupational exposure to infected arthropods.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not at risk for Rickettsia infections or those with existing severe infections may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on creating a new preventive treatment for serious bacterial infections caused by Rickettsia, which are transmitted through insect bites. The approach involves developing a protein that can prevent the bacteria from evading the immune system by blocking their ability to use a human protein for protection. By fusing specific parts of human antibodies to this protein, the goal is to enhance the immune response against these infections. Patients may benefit from this innovative treatment if it proves effective in preventing severe disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce the incidence of life-threatening Rickettsia infections.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of using engineered proteins to enhance immune response is promising, this specific application for Rickettsia infections is novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Planet Biotechnology, INC.
Hayward, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wycoff, Keith — Planet Biotechnology, INC.
- Study coordinator: Wycoff, Keith
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.