How aging and sex change immune protection against pneumococcal bacteria
THE IMPACT OF ADVANCED AGE AND SEX ON HUMORAL IMMUNITY TO STREPTOCOCCUS PNEUMONIAE
This project looks at how getting older and being male or female change antibody protection against Streptococcus pneumoniae in adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wake Forest University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Winston-Salem, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11159761 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, researchers will compare antibody levels and immune responses to pneumococcal capsular proteins in older men and women. They will use samples from humans and complementary work in mice to pinpoint immune cells and molecules that differ by age and sex. The team will measure antibody titers, antibody function, and cell-based immune responses after vaccination or exposure. Findings are intended to reveal why vaccine protection weakens with age and why men and women respond differently.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be older adults (particularly seniors) who can provide blood samples and have a history of pneumococcal vaccination or exposure.
Not a fit: Children and younger adults, or people unable to travel to the study site, are unlikely to benefit directly from participating in this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify targets or strategies to improve pneumococcal vaccine protection in older adults.
How similar studies have performed: Previous vaccine studies show pneumococcal vaccines protect but responses decline with age and sex differences have been observed, while the detailed mechanisms being explored here remain relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Winston-Salem, United States
- Wake Forest University Health Sciences — Winston-Salem, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Haas, Karen M — Wake Forest University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Haas, Karen 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.