Immune proteins that protect or raise risk in Staph bone infections
Official title: Defining the Protective vs. Susceptible Immune Proteome of S. aureus Osteomyelitis
Funded at University of Rochester · NIH-11178455 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at which antibodies and immune cells help people recover from Staphylococcus aureus bone infections and whether a new mRNA vaccine approach can change who is protected.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2017 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $246,856 |
| NIH project number | 5P50AR072000-09 |
| Project ID | NIH-11178455 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people with confirmed Staphylococcus aureus osteomyelitis, especially those already enrolled or eligible for the AO-CPP Bone Infection Registry and receiving care at participating centers.
✕Less likely to help
People without Staph bone infections or whose infections are caused by other organisms are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
What this research studies
Researchers are using blood samples from a 297-person Bone Infection Registry, detailed antibody tests, and bacterial genome sequencing to map the immune proteins linked to better or worse outcomes in Staph osteomyelitis. Lab and animal studies will explore whether patients lack protective antibody-secreting B cells or long-lived plasma cells and how different Staph strains affect those responses. The team plans to test whether multivalent nanoparticle mRNA vaccines can shift a susceptible immune profile toward a protective one. The work combines patient samples, advanced assays, and preclinical vaccine development to move findings toward clinical use.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to tests that identify who is at high risk for reinfection and vaccines or therapies that reduce repeat Staph bone infections.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier work from this team already linked anti-Gmd antibodies with protection and anti-IsdB with susceptibility, while the multivalent nanoparticle mRNA vaccine approach remains novel and untested in patients.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Rochester
Rochester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schwarz, Edward M. — University of Rochester
- Study coordinator: Schwarz, Edward M.
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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.