How past dengue infection or vaccination shapes T cell immunity
Project 3: Immunological imprinting of T cell responses following dengue virus natural infections and live attenuated dengue virus vaccination
This project looks at how previous dengue infections or a weakened dengue vaccine change T cells in children and others exposed to dengue.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Berkeley NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Berkeley, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11111758 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will use blood samples collected over time from children in dengue studies to measure dengue-specific T cells. They will map which parts of the virus these T cells recognize and how many different T cell receptors are involved. The team will compare responses after a second infection with a different dengue type or after receiving a live attenuated dengue vaccine. The goal is to see whether prior exposures make T cell responses broader or more focused and how that relates to protection or worse illness.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Children (especially ages 0–11) who have had a prior dengue infection or who received a live attenuated dengue vaccine and who are enrolled in or willing to join a dengue cohort.
Not a fit: People without prior dengue exposure or anyone needing immediate treatment for acute dengue are unlikely to get direct benefit from this immunology-focused project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Findings could help design safer, more effective dengue vaccines and predict who is at higher risk for severe dengue.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have identified dengue T cell targets and vaccine responses, but how prior infections imprint later T cell responses is not yet fully understood.
Where this research is happening
Berkeley, United States
- University of California Berkeley — Berkeley, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Weiskopf, Daniela — University of California Berkeley
- Study coordinator: Weiskopf, Daniela
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.