How early gut virus infections affect developing tolerance to foods in children
The interplay between early-life enteric virus infection and the development of oral tolerance
They will look at whether common childhood gut viruses make it harder for young immune systems to learn to tolerate foods.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Santa Cruz NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Santa Cruz, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11057352 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will use a mouse model of astrovirus — a virus that commonly infects children — to see how infection during early life changes the gut’s ability to teach immune cells to ignore food proteins. They will expose young mice to the virus and a model food protein (ovalbumin), measure T cell conversion, and use spatial transcriptomics to map goblet cell-associated antigen passages (GAPs) and nearby immune cells. The team will test whether disruption of GAPs during infection explains a loss of oral tolerance and identify molecular signals involved. Findings will be used to link early viral exposures to later problems like celiac disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Children under ten, especially those with early-life viral gut infections or a family history of celiac disease, are the most relevant population for the findings.
Not a fit: Adults without a history of early gut infections or people with unrelated digestive disorders are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this lab-based project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal how early gut infections increase the risk of food-related immune diseases and point to ways to prevent or reverse loss of oral tolerance.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have linked enteric viruses to breaks in tolerance, but focusing on goblet cell-associated antigen passages with spatial transcriptomics is a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
Santa Cruz, United States
- University of California Santa Cruz — Santa Cruz, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cortez, Valerie — University of California Santa Cruz
- Study coordinator: Cortez, Valerie
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.