Low‑affinity CD8 immune cells linked to malaria damage
Pathogenic low affinity CD8 T cells in malaria
This work tests whether certain CD8 immune cells that bind weakly to malaria proteins make infection more likely to cause organ damage like lung injury in people with malaria.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Salt Lake City, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11161636 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have malaria, the team wants to know why some people's immune response causes tissue damage while others recover. They will measure how strongly groups of CD8 T cells bind to pieces of the Plasmodium parasite and track which types expand during infection. Using blood samples and laboratory models of malaria, the labs will compare high- and low-affinity T cell responses and connect those patterns to signs of disease. The goal is to identify immune features that predict or drive harmful inflammation so future treatments can target those cells.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants would be people with recent or active Plasmodium infection—especially those with severe or lung-related symptoms—or individuals willing to provide blood samples for immune profiling.
Not a fit: People without malaria or whose illness is caused mainly by uncontrolled parasite levels rather than immune-driven damage may not receive direct benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to ways to prevent or lessen immune-driven complications of malaria, such as acute lung injury, by targeting the harmful T cells.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies show T cells can both control and cause harm in malaria, but using detailed affinity profiling to link low-affinity CD8 T cells to disease progression is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Salt Lake City, United States
- Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah — Salt Lake City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lamb, Tracey Jane — Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah
- Study coordinator: Lamb, Tracey Jane
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.