Why some people get severe dengue during their first infection
Immune responses associated with severe disease in patients with primary dengue infection
['FUNDING_R01'] · EMORY UNIVERSITY · NIH-11190950
This project looks at how the immune system responds in people who develop severe dengue the first time they are infected.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | EMORY UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (ATLANTA, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11190950 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If I join, researchers will compare the immune responses of people with severe dengue from first-time (primary) infections to those with repeat (secondary) infections. They will collect blood samples to study innate immune cells, antibody features including binding and modifications, and CD4/CD8 T cell responses. The team will focus enrollment and sample work in India where severe primary dengue is common and use laboratory tests to measure platelets, monocytes, antibody function, and T cell activity. The goal is to find immune differences that explain why some people, including children, get very sick the first time they catch dengue.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are children and other people in dengue-affected areas who have confirmed primary or secondary dengue infection, especially those showing severe symptoms.
Not a fit: People without dengue infection or those with only mild illness are unlikely to receive direct benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify immune markers that help predict who is at risk of severe dengue and inform better treatments, vaccines, or early care strategies.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown antibody-dependent enhancement contributes to severe dengue after repeat infections, but focused studies explaining severe outcomes in first-time infections are limited, so this work builds on known findings while addressing a less-studied problem.
Where this research is happening
ATLANTA, UNITED STATES
- EMORY UNIVERSITY — ATLANTA, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: KAJA, MURALI KRISHNA — EMORY UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: KAJA, MURALI KRISHNA
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.