How flu viruses change inside the body
Impact of intra-host population structure on influenza virus antigenic evolution
This work looks at how influenza viruses change inside people with the flu so future vaccines and treatments can better match those changes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11229786 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team will track viral differences inside infected people and in animal models by collecting samples over time and from different tissues. They will use genetic sequencing to see when and where new virus variants appear and measure how common each variant is. Controlled transmission and laboratory experiments will test how initial virus amounts, timing of new mutations, location in the body, and competing variants affect which viruses survive and spread. The researchers will also study how prior immunity in a host changes the tightness of the transmission bottleneck between people.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with a recent confirmed influenza infection who can provide nasal or throat swabs and brief clinical information early in their illness.
Not a fit: People without an active influenza infection or those unable to provide timely samples are unlikely to receive direct benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could improve how vaccines and treatments are designed to match how flu viruses evolve and help reduce transmission.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have successfully sequenced influenza from patients and animal models, but this project applies those methods to new questions about within-host population structure and transmission bottlenecks.
Where this research is happening
Atlanta, United States
- Emory University — Atlanta, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lowen, Anice C — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Lowen, Anice C
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.