How immune 'brakes' on white blood cells shape silent malaria in children
Modulation of Monocyte and T Cell Functions by Immune Inhibitory Receptors during Subclinical Malaria
This project looks at whether two immune inhibitory receptors on monocytes change how children tolerate Plasmodium falciparum infections without symptoms.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11249669 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If my child carries malaria parasites but has no fever, this research will use stored blood samples from children in Benin to see how immune inhibitory receptors called LILRB1 and LILRB2 alter monocyte and T cell interactions. The team will compare children with brief versus long-lasting subclinical infections and measure receptor levels and immune cell function in the lab. Findings will aim to define immune signatures that allow parasites to persist without causing symptoms and to show how monocytes may limit T cell activation. The work relies on samples already collected from a longitudinal pediatric cohort rather than new treatment visits.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are children and adolescents (about 1–15 years old) in malaria-endemic settings with subclinical Plasmodium falciparum infections or those already enrolled in the Beninese longitudinal cohort.
Not a fit: People without malaria, adults outside the cohort, or those with acute symptomatic malaria are unlikely to directly benefit from this specific project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal immune markers or mechanisms to better identify or target people who silently carry malaria and inform elimination strategies or future therapies.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research has linked inhibitory receptors to immune control in malaria and other chronic infections, but focusing on LILRB1 and LILRB2 in pediatric subclinical malaria is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Cleveland, United States
- Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru — Cleveland, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dobbs, Katherine Rose — Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru
- Study coordinator: Dobbs, Katherine Rose
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.