Guiding the immune system to make broadly protective HIV and flu antibodies
Flipped Germinal Centers
This work creates designer versions of HIV and influenza proteins to teach the immune system to produce broadly protective antibodies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11141814 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team is designing modified viral proteins that bind the rare precursor immune cells that can become broadly neutralizing antibody makers. They plan to speed up the usual trial-and-error process for creating and testing these designer proteins using lab selection and cloning techniques so good candidates emerge faster. The approach uses sequences and cell-based tests to find primer and booster immunogens that steer antibody maturation toward broad protection. If successful, the work would point to vaccine candidates that could move into later testing in people.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People at risk for influenza or HIV, or those interested in future vaccine trials based on broadly protective antibody strategies, would be the likely candidates for downstream human studies.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate treatment for an existing infection or those with unrelated medical conditions are unlikely to get direct benefit from this laboratory-focused work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could enable vaccines that protect against many strains of influenza and diverse HIV variants rather than only strain-specific immunity.
How similar studies have performed: Related laboratory and early clinical efforts have shown promising steps in isolating broadly neutralizing antibodies and designing sequential immunogens, but reliably eliciting these antibodies by vaccination in people remains largely unproven.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Brigham and Women's Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wesemann, Duane R. — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Wesemann, Duane R.
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.