How antibodies protect children from Shigella infections
Functional profiling of OSP-specific and other antibodies during shigella infection
Researchers are identifying which antibody features in children and their household contacts in Bangladesh help protect against Shigella gut infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11379782 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project follows children and household contacts in an informal settlement in Dhaka, Bangladesh where Shigella is common. Study teams collect blood samples and measure different antibodies, including responses to the O-specific polysaccharide (OSP), and test how well those antibodies trigger immune actions like complement activation and phagocytosis. They compare antibody features between people who get sick and those who do not, and look at age-related differences to understand why vaccines worked in adults but not young children. The findings are meant to point to the antibody traits that could guide better vaccines for young kids.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are young children (especially under age 5) and their household contacts living in the Dhaka informal settlement who can attend local study visits and provide blood samples and clinical information.
Not a fit: People who live outside the study area, do not have exposure to Shigella, or are unwilling to provide samples or follow-up are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could guide design of vaccines that better protect young children from Shigella and lower diarrheal illness and deaths.
How similar studies have performed: Prior trials showed an OSP-conjugate vaccine protected older children and adults but failed in young children, and other studies have linked functional antibody responses to protection, so this builds on promising but incomplete evidence.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ryan, Edward T. — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Ryan, Edward T.
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.