How flu antibodies attach to the virus
Project 4: Structural Biology of Influenza Antibody-Antigen Interactions
This project looks at how antibodies from people of different ages stick to flu virus proteins to help make better vaccines.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11468148 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You may be asked to give a blood sample after flu vaccination so scientists can study memory B cells and the antibodies they make. Researchers will map where antibodies bind on flu proteins like hemagglutinin and neuraminidase and use cryo-EM to see antibody-antigen structures in 3D. The team will compare samples from different age groups to understand how past flu exposure shapes immune responses and will work with other project teams to design improved vaccine components. Lab experiments will also model how viruses and antibodies co-evolve to predict possible immune escape and guide vaccine design.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are people who recently received an influenza vaccine (including children and older adults) and are willing to give blood samples and attend study visits.
Not a fit: People who are not vaccinated against influenza, unable to give blood, or whose health issues are unrelated to flu immunology are unlikely to receive direct benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help design flu vaccines that protect more people across age groups by targeting the most important antibody sites.
How similar studies have performed: Previous structural studies of flu antibodies and B-cell mapping have successfully informed vaccine design, so this project builds on established methods.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Boston Children's Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Harrison, Stephen Coplan — Boston Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Harrison, Stephen Coplan
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.