Understanding how dengue virus antibodies develop and function
Official title: The evolution of dengue virus-reactive circulating antibody repertoire
Funded at University of California Berkeley · NIH-10770575 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how your immune system reacts to dengue virus infections, especially how your body’s antibodies and B cells change after getting the virus once or more, and it needs blood samples from patients to help find ways to create better treatments and vaccines.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Berkeley NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Berkeley, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $194,832 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AI176011-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10770575 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation include children aged 0-11 years who have experienced dengue virus infections.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not been infected with any dengue virus serotype may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the immune response to dengue virus infections, focusing on how antibodies and B cells evolve after primary and secondary infections. By analyzing samples from a long-term cohort study in Nicaragua, the researchers aim to uncover the mechanisms that lead to broader protection against multiple dengue virus serotypes. The study will explore the role of memory B cells in generating effective antibodies that can neutralize the virus, which is crucial for developing better treatments and vaccines. Patients may be involved in providing blood samples to help understand these immune responses.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatments and vaccines for dengue fever, potentially reducing the incidence and severity of the disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in understanding antibody responses to viral infections, making this approach both relevant and potentially impactful.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Berkeley
Berkeley, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Harris, Eva — University of California Berkeley
- Study coordinator: Harris, Eva
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Immune responses linked to severe dengue in children (primary infection)
This grant studies why some kids get very sick from their first dengue infection and how their immune system reacts differently from secondary infections.
-
Phase 2b trial of dengue vaccines TAK-003 and Butantan-DV to boost lasting, broad antibody protection
A trial tests whether giving a second dengue vaccine (Butantan-DV) after an initial TAK-003 shot can create stronger, longer-lasting antibodies that work against all dengue types.
-
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.
-
Selective GAK inhibitors to fight dengue, VEEV and other emerging viral infections
A Stanford team is testing new, selective inhibitors of GAK to block how certain viruses enter and exit cells, with the goal of a broad antiviral approach that could help people exposed to dengue, VEEV, and similar infections.
-
Defining immune markers predicting protection against dengue in a long-term family study in Thailand
This grant looks at how antibodies develop to protect against dengue in children from a long-running family cohort in Thailand, with the goal of identifying immune signs that predict protection across multiple dengue serotypes.
-
Understanding dengue protection in children from a long-term Thai family cohort
A long-term study in Thailand follows families to understand how early exposures to dengue shape protection and illness risk for children as they encounter the virus over time.
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.