Human antibody responses to Staphylococcus aureus to guide better vaccines
Interrogating human anti-staphylococcal antibody responses for S. aureus vaccine insights
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · NIH-11128624
Researchers are comparing antibodies from children and older adults who had invasive Staph infections to find which antibodies protect against Staph and which do not.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (LA JOLLA, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11128624 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If you join, you may be asked to provide blood samples and health information after having an invasive Staphylococcus aureus infection. Scientists will map the antibodies in those samples, isolate antibodies that appear protective or non-protective, and study their structures and functions in the lab. They will test how those antibodies work in experimental systems to understand why some vaccines fail and how new vaccines might avoid interference from non-protective antibodies. The goal is to use what is learned from patient antibodies to design vaccines that trigger protective immune responses.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are children and older adults who have had invasive Staphylococcus aureus infections and are willing to provide blood samples and medical history.
Not a fit: People without a history of invasive Staph infection or those needing immediate treatment for an active infection are unlikely to gain direct benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This work could help create vaccines that reliably prevent Staph infections by focusing on antibodies that actually protect people.
How similar studies have performed: Previous human vaccine trials against Staph have failed, but early lab work shows some human antibodies can protect, so this approach builds on promising but still preliminary findings.
Where this research is happening
LA JOLLA, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO — LA JOLLA, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: LIU, GEORGE Y — UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO
- Study coordinator: LIU, GEORGE Y
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.