How antibodies target the viruses that live on the body
Antibody targeting of the virome
This project looks at how people’s antibodies recognize the many viruses (mainly bacteriophages) that live on and in our bodies, including in children.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Salt Lake City, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11192855 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you or your child join, researchers would collect blood and mucosal samples (like swabs) to find which viruses are bound by antibodies such as IgA and IgG. They will sequence viral genetic material and use lab tests that pair patient antibodies with viral components to map immune targets. The team will compare patterns across samples to learn which phages are common in healthy people and which ones relate to altered immune development or disease. The work aims to reveal viral signatures that interact with the human immune system and may point to future diagnostics or treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people—including children ages 0–11—who can provide blood and mucosal samples and are willing to share basic health information.
Not a fit: People who cannot or will not provide biological samples or whose conditions are unrelated to immune–microbiome interactions are unlikely to receive direct benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could identify viral markers or immune targets that lead to new diagnostics, vaccines, or therapies and better understanding of immune development.
How similar studies have performed: Related studies mapping antibody responses to bacteria have been informative, but applying antibody-mapping to the virome is a newer approach with promising preliminary data.
Where this research is happening
Salt Lake City, United States
- Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah — Salt Lake City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Round, June Louise — Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah
- Study coordinator: Round, June Louise
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.