How infants' nose-and-throat immune defenses fight RSV
Official title: Elucidating Mechanisms of Mucosal Immune Protection Against Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Infants
Funded at Louisiana State Univ A&m Col Baton Rouge · NIH-11160457 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work looks at how newborns' mucosal immune responses, especially interferon-alpha and IgA antibodies, help protect infants from RSV infection.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Louisiana State Univ A&m Col Baton Rouge NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baton Rouge, United States) |
| Project start | August 11, 2011 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,663,531 |
| NIH project number | 4R01AI090059-14 |
| Project ID | NIH-11160457 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be newborns or infants whose parents agree to provide airway or blood samples or to enroll in linked observational protocols at participating hospitals.
✕Less likely to help
Adults, older children, or infants who cannot provide samples or are not enrolled at participating sites would not directly benefit from this mechanistic research.
What this research studies
Researchers compare immune responses in newborn mice and samples from human infants to understand why babies make weak mucosal IgA after RSV exposure. They focus on the role of type I interferon (IFN‑α) in triggering protective IgA in the airways. The team uses controlled infections in neonatal mouse models and analyzes human infant samples to trace the IFN‑α → IgA pathway. Findings will guide ways to boost mucosal immunity in the youngest infants to lower severe RSV and repeat infections.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to boost babies' nasal and airway immunity and help prevent severe RSV illness and later lung problems.
How similar studies have gone: Prior animal and human studies show interferon and mucosal IgA are linked to protection and recent antibody and maternal vaccine approaches have reduced severe RSV, but directly restoring neonatal IFNα-driven IgA is a newer, less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Louisiana State Univ A&m Col Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cormier, Stephania a — Louisiana State Univ A&m Col Baton Rouge
- Study coordinator: Cormier, Stephania a
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.