How our immune system keeps a memory of vaccines and infections over time

Who could benefit from this research

What this research studies

This project will track antigen-specific T cell responses for up to three years after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and compare them with responses from natural infection and past infections followed by vaccination. Researchers will use advanced techniques like cytometric analysis, single-cell transcriptomics, and T cell receptor sequencing to map T cell phenotypes, gene activity, and clonal patterns. The study also plans to compare responses across different vaccine platforms and include data from vaccines for Yellow Fever and Pertussis. In addition, a large cross-sectional cohort will help explore how disease severity relates to immune memory. The findings could clarify how long protection lasts and how prior exposures influence future responses.

Why it matters

Where this research is happening

• La Jolla Institute for Immunology
  La Jolla, United States Active

Researchers

• Principal investigator: Sette, Alessandro — La Jolla Institute for Immunology
• Study coordinator: Sette, Alessandro

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

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  NIH research University of California Los Angeles · Los Angeles, United States · NIH-11283983

• Understanding how SARS-CoV-2 vaccines affect immune responses

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  NIH research Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center · Boston, United States · NIH-11144632

• Investigating immune responses to COVID-19 vaccination in children with multiple sclerosis on immunotherapy

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• Understanding how kidney transplant patients respond to COVID-19 vaccination while on specific immunosuppressive therapy

  This study is looking at how kidney transplant patients taking a medication called mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) respond to COVID-19 vaccines, and whether stopping this medication before getting vaccinated could help them build a stronger immune response and better protect them against the virus.

  NIH research University of California Los Angeles · Los Angeles, United States · NIH-11046505

About this research

1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.