How common enteroviruses can block rotavirus vaccine protection
Enterovirus interference with rotavirus vaccine replication and immunity
This work looks at whether common enterovirus infections around the time babies get oral rotavirus vaccines make the vaccines less likely to protect them.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11113812 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If your baby gets a rotavirus vaccine, researchers will compare stool samples from infants in a vaccine cohort with lab-grown human intestinal tissue and mouse models to see how enteroviruses affect the vaccine virus. They will focus on Enterovirus B strains found in places with lower vaccine performance and look for antiviral signals from the gut lining that might stop the vaccine virus from replicating. Most human participation is non-invasive (fecal samples) from infants receiving routine vaccines, while deeper lab tests use organoids and animal models. The team aims to identify the biological steps of interference so vaccine timing or short-term treatments can be improved.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are infants receiving oral rotavirus vaccines in the enrolled clinical cohorts (for example infants in Ghana) who can provide non-invasive stool samples during the vaccination period.
Not a fit: Adults, children who are not receiving oral rotavirus vaccines, or infants outside the enrolled cohorts or regions are unlikely to benefit directly from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could lead to changes like adjusted vaccine timing or brief interventions that improve rotavirus vaccine protection for infants in low- and middle-income countries.
How similar studies have performed: Observational data have linked enterovirus infections with lower rotavirus vaccine responses, but the detailed laboratory and causal evidence this project pursues is largely new.
Where this research is happening
Saint Louis, United States
- Washington University — Saint Louis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Baldridge, Megan T — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Baldridge, Megan 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.