Two-part vaccine to prevent Acinetobacter baumannii infections
Synthesis and Evaluation of a Bivalent Glycoconjugate Vaccine for Prevention of Infection with Acinetobacter baumannii
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 ID | NIH-11170479 on NIH RePORTER |
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.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: 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.
Not a fit: People with an active A. baumannii infection or those at very low risk of exposure are unlikely to benefit from this preventive vaccine approach.
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 performed: 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
Baton Rouge, United States
- 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
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.