How sugar tags on antibodies help protect newborns from hidden infections
Sialylated antibody defense against intracellular infections
This work looks at whether tiny chemical changes on mothers' antibodies help newborn babies fight germs that live inside cells.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cincinnati, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11261231 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research explores how a small chemical tag (an acetyl group) on the sugar sialic acid at the end of antibodies changes during pregnancy and how that change affects newborn immunity. The team will analyze maternal and neonatal antibodies and use laboratory cell and animal models to follow how deacetylated antibodies interact with the B cell receptor CD22 and change immune responses. They will search for the enzymes that add or remove the acetyl tag and test whether changing antibody acetylation can improve protection against intracellular pathogens like Listeria. The goal is to learn whether altering these antibody sugar tags could be used to boost maternal or newborn protection.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants would include pregnant people, donors of maternal blood or cord blood, and newborns or families willing to provide samples at participating clinical sites.
Not a fit: People who are not pregnant, not caring for newborns, or whose conditions are unrelated to antibody-mediated immunity are unlikely to see direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to strengthen maternal or newborn immunity against infections that hide inside cells.
How similar studies have performed: This builds on recent discoveries by the investigators but represents a new, not-yet-tested approach to harnessing antibody sugar changes for protection.
Where this research is happening
Cincinnati, United States
- Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr — Cincinnati, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Erickson, John J. — Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr
- Study coordinator: Erickson, John J.
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.