Why some dengue antibodies make illness worse
Official title: Mechanisms of Antibody-Dependent Enhancement of Dengue Disease
Funded at Rockefeller University · NIH-11158664 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work checks whether certain antibodies in people who had dengue before can make later dengue infections more severe.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rockefeller University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 24, 2018 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $459,711 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI137276-08 |
| Project ID | NIH-11158664 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People who have had dengue before or who live in dengue-endemic regions and can provide blood samples would be the most relevant participants.
✕Less likely to help
People without prior dengue exposure, those not in endemic areas, or anyone needing immediate treatment for acute dengue are unlikely to benefit directly from this research.
What this research studies
Researchers will study blood samples from people in dengue-endemic areas and people who previously had dengue to look at the exact types of antibodies they make. In the lab, they will test how those antibodies bind to immune-cell receptors and whether that helps the dengue virus infect those cells. They will pay special attention to small sugar changes on antibodies (like afucosylation) that change how antibodies interact with Fcγ receptors. The team combines patient sample analysis with cellular experiments to link antibody features to disease severity.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could guide safer vaccine and therapy designs that avoid producing antibodies that worsen dengue.
How similar studies have gone: Prior lab and population studies have linked certain antibody features to worse dengue outcomes, but applying that knowledge to treatments or safer vaccines is still at an early stage.
Where this research is happening
-
Rockefeller University
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bournazos, Stylianos — Rockefeller University
- Study coordinator: Bournazos, Stylianos
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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.