Pathways to trigger protective MAIT cell responses against bacterial infections
Official title: Pathogen-specific antigen presentation pathways to induce protective MAIT cell response
Funded at Texas Biomedical Research Institute · NIH-11434361 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study to figure out which bacterial metabolite antigens activate MAIT cells through MR1 to defend against TB and tularemia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas Biomedical Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Antonio, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $824,278 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AI201766-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11434361 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients at risk for or affected by Mycobacterium tuberculosis or Francisella tularensis infections could benefit from advances deriving from this research.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not at risk for these infections may not directly benefit from this study.
What this research studies
MAIT cells are a first line of defense against certain bacterial infections and are activated by unique metabolite antigens presented by MR1. This research will identify specific antigens and the presentation pathways that best stimulate MAIT cells to protect against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Francisella tularensis. The team will explore how different infections load these metabolites onto MR1 and how to optimally deliver the right antigen through the correct pathway. The project is conducted at Texas Biomedical Research Institute in San Antonio, led by Shouxiong Huang, and includes studies in relevant models to understand protective MAIT cell responses.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could guide new approaches to prevent or mitigate serious bacterial infections by promoting MAIT cell–mediated immunity.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows MAIT cells respond to certain bacterial antigens, with ongoing efforts to identify protective antigen pathways.
Where this research is happening
-
Texas Biomedical Research Institute
San Antonio, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Huang, Shouxiong — Texas Biomedical Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Huang, Shouxiong
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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.