How common gut viruses may reduce rotavirus vaccine protection
Enterovirus interference with rotavirus vaccine replication and immunity
This project looks at whether common intestinal enteroviruses present during vaccination make rotavirus shots work less well in infants and why.
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-11404306 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will combine non-invasive stool testing from infants who receive oral rotavirus vaccine with lab experiments in human intestinal organoids and mouse models. They will use Enterovirus B strains found in Ghana and other places where vaccines work less well to see how these viruses change vaccine virus replication and gut immune signals. The team will measure antiviral cytokines produced by the gut lining and map the signaling pathways that might block vaccine responses. Results from each system will be compared to detect mechanisms that could be targeted to improve vaccine effectiveness.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Infants scheduled to receive oral rotavirus vaccine—especially those in low- and middle-income settings where vaccine performance is reduced—are the main group relevant to this work.
Not a fit: Adults, children not receiving rotavirus vaccine, or people without concurrent enterovirus exposure are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could suggest practical ways to boost rotavirus vaccine protection in infants, such as changing vaccination timing, adding short-term therapies, or guiding new vaccine strategies.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier observational work linked Enterovirus B at the time of vaccination to poorer rotavirus vaccine responses, but the combined use of human organoids, animal models, and infant stool analyses to define mechanisms is largely novel.
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.