Two-part vaccine to prevent Acinetobacter baumannii infections
Official title: Synthesis and Evaluation of a Bivalent Glycoconjugate Vaccine for Prevention of Infection with Acinetobacter baumannii
Funded at Louisiana State Univ A&m Col Baton Rouge · NIH-11170479 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Developing a two-component vaccine to help protect people from infections caused by the antibiotic-resistant bacterium Acinetobacter baumannii.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Louisiana State Univ A&m Col Baton Rouge NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baton Rouge, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $184,586 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AI182953-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11170479 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Future human trials would likely enroll people at higher risk for A. baumannii infection, such as hospitalized or ventilated patients, immunocompromised individuals, or those in settings with known outbreaks.
✕Less likely to help
People with an active A. baumannii infection or those at very low risk of exposure are unlikely to benefit from this preventive vaccine approach.
What this research studies
Researchers will chemically make two types of sugar pieces found on the surface of A. baumannii and attach them to carrier proteins to create a bivalent glycoconjugate vaccine. These vaccine candidates will be given to mice to see whether they produce strong antibody responses and protect the animals from infection. If the vaccine candidates protect mice, the team will refine the formulations and move toward steps needed for human testing. The long-term aim is a preventive vaccine for people at risk of A. baumannii infection.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lead to a vaccine that prevents antibiotic-resistant A. baumannii infections and reduces related hospital outbreaks and deaths.
How similar studies have gone: Glycoconjugate vaccines have been effective for other bacteria (for example, pneumococcus and meningococcus), but using a two-glycan glycoconjugate specifically against A. baumannii is novel and not yet proven.
Where this research is happening
-
Louisiana State Univ A&m Col Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ragains, Justin Robert — Louisiana State Univ A&m Col Baton Rouge
- Study coordinator: Ragains, Justin Robert
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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.