Spore-based oral vaccines that display modified bacterial proteins
Official title: Boosting efficacy of oral vaccine candidates by enabling spore display of nitrated antigens
Funded at University of Delaware · NIH-11398340 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are creating an easy-to-give oral vaccine using Bacillus subtilis spores that display a modified amino acid to help the immune system spot and fight bacterial infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Delaware NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 8, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $946,800 |
| NIH project number | 4DP2AI176137-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11398340 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People at risk for bacterial infections or those who would benefit from new vaccines against antibiotic-resistant bacteria could be candidates for future clinical trials based on this work.
✕Less likely to help
Because this is preclinical laboratory work, patients with current infections or those seeking immediate treatment are unlikely to benefit directly at this stage, and immunocompromised people may not be eligible for future spore-based vaccines.
What this research studies
The team engineers Bacillus subtilis spores to present bacterial proteins that have been site-specifically modified with a nitrated amino acid, which can make weakly immunogenic antigens more visible to helper T cells. By showing these modified antigens on stable spores, they aim to create shelf-stable oral vaccine vectors that are simple to administer. Early work builds on studies in mice showing nitrated residues can break immune tolerance and trigger antibody responses. This is primarily laboratory and animal research intended to expand which bacterial proteins could be used in future human vaccines.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to low-cost, shelf-stable oral vaccines that generate stronger antibody responses against bacterial pathogens, helping prevent infections and reduce antibiotic use.
How similar studies have gone: Related approaches have shown promise in mice—nitrated residues on proteins triggered helper T cell responses—but human testing of this exact spore-display method has not yet been established.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Delaware
Newark, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kunjapur, Aditya Mohan — University of Delaware
- Study coordinator: Kunjapur, Aditya Mohan
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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.