Understanding how Staphylococcus aureus affects immune responses in the skin
Official title: Mechanisms of Staphylococcus aureus-induced changes in cutaneous T cell networks
Funded at Iowa City VA Medical Center · NIH-11109688 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a common skin infection caused by Staphylococcus aureus affects the immune system, especially in people who have recovered from MRSA infections, to find ways to help the body fight off future infections and possibly develop a vaccine.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Iowa City VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Iowa City, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2020 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 5IK2BX004532-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11109688 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals who have experienced skin infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus, particularly those with a history of MRSA infections.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not had any history of skin infections or those with compromised immune systems may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, which commonly causes skin infections, alters the immune system's T cell networks. By examining the immune responses in patients who have healed from MRSA skin infections, the study aims to identify protective mechanisms and potential vaccine targets. The approach includes using models of previous infections to understand how the body can develop immunity against future infections. This could lead to new strategies for preventing severe infections caused by drug-resistant strains.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the development of effective vaccines against Staphylococcus aureus infections, reducing the incidence of severe skin and soft tissue infections.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in developing vaccines targeting Staphylococcus aureus, indicating that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Iowa City VA Medical Center
Iowa City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Parlet, Corey — Iowa City VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Parlet, Corey
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Biomarkers that predict how Parkinson’s will progress
This NIH grant aims to find markers, like brain imaging and blood tests, that could tell doctors early on which people with Parkinson’s are likely to see faster or slower disease progression.
-
Immune system and inflammation in blast-related brain injury progression
This project looks at how the body's immune response after blast-related brain injury may drive ongoing brain and eye damage, with potential therapies that are already approved for other uses.
-
New, practical metrics to improve how hospitals prescribe antibiotics
Aims to develop and test new metrics that better measure how well hospitals use antibiotics, with the goal of improving patient safety and reducing resistance.
-
Improving antimicrobial use at discharge by building on hospital stewardship
This grant explores how to reduce unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions after hospital discharge to help prevent infections and side effects.
-
Perioperative pain self-management to prevent long-term pain and opioid use
This project tests whether a short cognitive-behavioral perioperative pain self-management program helps surgical patients avoid chronic post-surgical pain and prolonged opioid use.
-
Center for Preventing and Treating Visual Loss in Veterans
A center-backed effort to detect early signs of eye and brain disorders that can cause blindness, using AI and advanced eye imaging to guide new treatments for Veterans and the general public.
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.