Respiratory pathogen–specific T cell signatures after vaccination, infection, and treatment
Official title: Respiratory pathogen-specific T cell signatures following vaccination, natural infection, and treatment
Funded at La Jolla Institute for Immunology · NIH-11537811 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research effort to map how immune T cells respond to respiratory infections and vaccines, with potential to guide better vaccines and treatments for conditions like covid-19 and pertussis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | La Jolla Institute for Immunology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | June 15, 2015 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $93,590 |
| NIH project number | 3U19AI118626-12S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11537811 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection, vaccination, or exposure to respiratory pathogens, and individuals receiving different vaccine platforms.
✕Less likely to help
People without exposure to the studied pathogens or who are not part of the study cohorts may not benefit directly.
What this research studies
This project will follow how CD4 and CD8 T cells react to respiratory pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2, common cold coronaviruses, influenza, RSV, and pertussis, both after natural infection and after vaccination. Researchers will track immune signatures over time to see how long responses last and how they change with different vaccines or prior infections. The study uses human samples from individuals who have experienced these infections or have been vaccinated, to build a detailed atlas of protective T cell responses. Findings could inform the design of vaccines and therapies that promote durable, broad protection against respiratory pathogens.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to vaccines and treatments that elicit stronger and longer-lasting T cell protection against respiratory infections.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown meaningful insights from T cell signatures in respiratory infections, supporting the potential value of this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
La Jolla Institute for Immunology
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sette, Alessandro — La Jolla Institute for Immunology
- Study coordinator: Sette, Alessandro
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Protective dengue vaccines that steer T and B cell responses
A vaccine study aims to guide the body’s T and B cells to fight all four dengue virus types safely and effectively.
-
Malaria vaccine and infection: how the body’s early and later immune responses relate to protection
Researchers are studying how people’s immune systems respond to the malaria pre-erythrocytic stage, whether after vaccination or infection, to identify which responses are linked to protection.
-
Spatially responsive mass vaccination for urban rabies
A new plan uses data and maps to place vaccination sites where they’re most needed in cities, aiming to boost rabies vaccination for both people and dogs.
-
Spatially responsive mass vaccination for urban rabies
A project tests smarter placement of vaccination sites to increase mass canine rabies vaccination in cities.
-
Vaccine failure after Covid-19 vaccination in older adults
This project follows vaccinated older adults to understand who among them still gets Covid-19 and what factors make those outcomes worse.
-
Trusted school messengers boosting non-mandated vaccines for kids
A school-based program aims to increase uptake of vaccines like influenza and HPV among children by using trusted school staff to share accurate vaccine information.
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.