Improved vaccines to protect against plague
Immunological characterization of rationally-designed vaccines against plague in mice and non-human primate models
Developing new vaccines to better protect people from bubonic and pneumonic plague by testing them in mice and nonhuman primates.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Med Br Galveston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Galveston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11137590 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are designing both live weakened vaccines and component (subunit) vaccines aimed at the bacterium Yersinia pestis that causes plague. They remove or alter genes that make the bacteria dangerous to create safer live-attenuated candidates and measure antibody and T-cell responses in mice and African green monkeys. The team compares immune protection against strains that lack common vaccine targets and against antibiotic-resistant variants. Results will guide which vaccine approaches are most likely to provide broad, lasting protection for people.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People at higher risk of plague exposure—such as healthcare or lab workers, military personnel, and residents of endemic regions—would be the most likely candidates for future vaccine trials.
Not a fit: People with severely weakened immune systems or known allergies to vaccine components may not be able to receive or benefit from live-attenuated vaccine candidates.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could produce safer, longer-lasting plague vaccines that protect against a wider range of strains, including antibiotic-resistant ones.
How similar studies have performed: Existing subunit vaccines (F1/LcrV) gave mixed protection and weak T-cell responses in humans, while some live-attenuated vaccine approaches have shown strong protection in animal studies but remain largely preclinical.
Where this research is happening
Galveston, United States
- University of Texas Med Br Galveston — Galveston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chopra, Ashok K — University of Texas Med Br Galveston
- Study coordinator: Chopra, Ashok K
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.