How Shigella interacts with gut immune cells to guide better vaccines
Modeling Shigella Interaction with Innate Cells in Enteroid Co-Cultures to Inform Vaccine Development
Researchers are using human gut tissue models to learn how Shigella bacteria trigger immune responses so vaccines can better protect young children.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Maryland Baltimore NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11133026 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers grow miniature human gut tissues called enteroids that include gut lining cells and add innate immune cells to recreate key parts of the human gut environment. They expose these co-cultures to different Shigella strains, including drug-resistant ones, to watch how the bacteria invade and how macrophages, dendritic cells, and intraepithelial lymphocytes respond. By comparing harmful inflammatory reactions with protective responses, the team aims to identify immune targets that a vaccine should trigger. Those findings will be used to guide the design of vaccines meant to prevent severe Shigella diarrhea in children.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for future vaccine trials would be young children in areas where Shigella is common, especially those under five years old.
Not a fit: People with non-Shigella causes of diarrhea or those needing immediate treatment for an active infection are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this laboratory research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This work could lead to vaccines that prevent severe Shigella diarrhea and reduce the impact of antibiotic-resistant infections in young children.
How similar studies have performed: Enteroid and immune cell co-culture methods are relatively new and have produced useful insights into gut infections, but a broadly successful Shigella vaccine has not yet been realized, so this approach is promising but still developing.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- University of Maryland Baltimore — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Barry, Eileen M. — University of Maryland Baltimore
- Study coordinator: Barry, Eileen M.
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.