Local and systemic immune responses during syphilis infection
Funded at University of Washington · NIH-11369837 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project aims to understand how the immune system responds to syphilis in order to help design a better vaccine for people affected by the infection.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $188,024 |
| NIH project number | 5K08AI180375-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11369837 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with syphilis or those at risk of infection who are willing to participate in immunology studies and blood sample collection.
✕Less likely to help
Participants who are not immunology responders or who do not provide Tp-specific T cell data may not directly benefit from the findings.
What this research studies
The research focuses on how the body’s immune cells react to Treponema pallidum during syphilis, with an emphasis on identifying T cell targets that drive protective antibody responses. The work will use established lab methods to detect, enrich, and study Tp-specific CD4 T cells from blood samples, aiming to map dominant T cell antigens. By understanding these immune interactions, the project seeks to inform vaccine design that elicits both T cell and antibody responses. The investigator plans to integrate findings with prior vaccine approaches to improve protection against syphilis in diverse populations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: A better understanding of immune targets could accelerate the development of an effective syphilis vaccine, potentially reducing infection rates and improving public health.
How similar studies have gone: Previous nonhuman studies targeting Tp antibodies showed limited protection, but this project builds on human-focused identification of Tp T cell antigens, which is a novel and ongoing area.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Washington
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Reid, Tara Brinck — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Reid, Tara Brinck
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Syphilis in Pregnancy: Understanding Infection in Moms and Babies
A study following pregnant women with syphilis and their babies to learn how the infection affects pregnancy and newborn health.
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Syphilis in Pregnancy: Molecular Tests and Immune Responses in Mom and Baby
A study to understand how syphilis affects pregnancy and newborns by using molecular tests and tracking immune responses in 750 pregnant women with syphilis and their babies.
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Crowdsourced digital messaging to boost syphilis and HIV testing for women in NYC and rural Alabama
A community-driven project tests whether crowdsourced digital messages can encourage women, especially women of color and Native American women, to get syphilis, HIV, and STI tests.
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Preventing syphilis in pregnant people in Rio de Janeiro
A clinical trial in Brazil tests a pregnancy-safe antibiotic plan to stop syphilis from affecting babies.
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Cefixime vs Penicillin G for Early Syphilis in HIV and non-HIV patients
This project compares a cefixime-based treatment to standard penicillin for early syphilis in people with and without HIV.
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Preventing congenital syphilis in pregnant people at risk in Rio de Janeiro
A clinical trial will test a treatment approach during pregnancy to reduce syphilis transmission from mother to baby for pregnant people at risk in Rio de Janeiro.
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.