Identifying gut viruses and bacteria that shape immunity in HIV-exposed infants
Official title: Identifying inter-kingdom microbial determinants of altered immunity in HIV exposed infants
Funded at University of California Riverside · NIH-11369943 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research team will study how the tiny organisms in babies' guts influence their immune responses to vaccines, especially in babies born to mothers with HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Riverside NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Riverside, United States) |
| Project start | September 12, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $239,912 |
| NIH project number | 5R00HD106861-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11369943 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Infants born to HIV-infected mothers (iHEU) and compare with HIV-unexposed uninfected infants (iHU) participating in the cohort.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy infants not meeting study inclusion criteria or without consent may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project will follow 40 HIV-exposed uninfected infants and 40 unexposed infants over time to examine gut viruses and bacteria and how they relate to immune responses after BCG vaccination. Researchers will combine viral metagenomes with bacterial microbiome data and T cell cytokine responses to understand their interactions. The goal is to identify microbial markers that shape immunity and vaccine effectiveness in early life. Results could point to new ways to support immune health in vulnerable infants.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to strategies to optimize vaccine responses and immune health for HIV-exposed infants.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows gut microbiota and virome influence immunity, but this study uniquely links infant virome, bacterial communities, and vaccine responses.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Riverside
Riverside, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Brown, Bryan P — University of California Riverside
- Study coordinator: Brown, Bryan P
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.