How type 2 immunity protects the gut from C. difficile
Role of Type 2 Immunity in Innate Protection from C. difficile
Learning how a specific immune response (called type 2 immunity) helps protect people from C. difficile gut infections to guide new treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Virginia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charlottesville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11319750 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are tracing how immune cells such as ILC2s, eosinophils, and certain macrophages work together to keep the gut lining safe and to promote healing after C. difficile infection. They combine lab models, microbiome analysis, flow cytometry, and single-cell RNA sequencing to follow the signals (like IL-25 and IL-33) that turn these protective responses on. The team builds on earlier findings that microbiota-driven type 2 responses reduce disease and prevent relapse. The goal is to identify immune targets that could lead to therapies that prevent recurrence or replace current approaches like fecal transplant.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who have had a recent C. difficile infection or recurrent CDI would be the most relevant candidates for future clinical work stemming from this research.
Not a fit: People without C. difficile infection or whose symptoms are caused by other conditions are unlikely to benefit from these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to immune-based treatments that lower relapse rates, reduce severe outcomes, and offer alternatives to fecal transplants for C. difficile infection.
How similar studies have performed: Prior preclinical work from this team showed that microbiota-driven type 2 immunity protects against C. difficile in lab models, but translating these findings into human treatments is still largely untested.
Where this research is happening
Charlottesville, United States
- University of Virginia — Charlottesville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Petri, William a — University of Virginia
- Study coordinator: Petri, William 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 below.