Making Better Vaccine Helpers
Iterative Microbial Production and Systems Immunology to Design QS-21 Adjuvants
This project aims to create improved vaccine helpers, called adjuvants, to make vaccines work better and last longer for people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Berkeley NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Berkeley, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11141230 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Vaccines often need a little boost to work their best, and that's where adjuvants come in. This project focuses on designing new and improved adjuvants, specifically a powerful one called QS-21, which is currently hard to get and can have side effects. Researchers are using advanced techniques, including engineering yeast to produce these adjuvants more efficiently and safely. They will also use "systems immunology" to understand exactly how these adjuvants interact with our immune system at a molecular level. This deeper understanding will help them create adjuvants that are more effective and have fewer unwanted reactions.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research does not directly involve patients, but future vaccine recipients could benefit from the improved adjuvants developed.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment for an existing condition would not directly benefit from this early-stage research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new, more effective, and safer vaccine adjuvants, making future vaccines stronger and providing longer-lasting protection against various diseases.
How similar studies have performed: Researchers have already successfully engineered yeast to produce QS-21 from simple sugars, showing promise for this approach.
Where this research is happening
Berkeley, United States
- University of California Berkeley — Berkeley, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Keasling, Jay D — University of California Berkeley
- Study coordinator: Keasling, Jay D
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.