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Maternal Antibody-Mediated Enhancement of Dengue Pathogenesis

Award Number: R01AI153500
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 03/05/2021
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 02/28/2026

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Maternal Antibody-Mediated Enhancement of Dengue Pathogenesis - ABSTRACT Dengue virus (DENV) represents a major threat to global health. However, the precise role of the immune system in protecting against and pathogenesis of the four DENV serotypes, which share antigenic similarities and geographic ranges with each other and other closely related flaviviruses are poorly understood. In particular, antibodies can contribute to DENV pathogenesis by mediating antibody (Ab)-dependent enhancement of infection (ADE). This project focuses on defining the features of the anti-flavivirus Ab response that contributes to ADE vs protection using epidemiologically relevant mouse models in which DENV infection of mouse pups is enhanced by maternally acquired flavivirus Abs. Our published and new data demonstrate that flavivirus vaccination-infection combinations can promote either pathogenesis or protection. Our preliminary data also show that mice lacking T follicular helper (Tfh) cell responses are unable to induce DENV IgG response, and that mice treated with an agonistic Ab that stimulates OX40, a T cell costimulatory molecule belonging to the TNF receptor superfamily, exhibit a boosted DENV IgG response, suggesting that the magnitude of the Tfh response correlates with the level of Ab response to DENV. Therefore, we hypothesize that promoting Tfh responses will increase the production of broadly-neutralizing Ab (bnAb) responses that mediate protection and minimize ADE during DENV infection. We will test this hypothesis by using an RNA replicon-based vaccine platform that induces robust T cell and Ab responses in the following Specific Aims: (1) Determine how vaccination with different flavivirus antigens affects Tfh cell and Ab responses in maternal mice and susceptibility to DENV ADE in their offspring. (2) Test whether manipulation of immunization variables and candidate T cell costimulatory pathways boosts maternal Tfh cell and Ab responses and induces a protective response to DENV2 infection in offspring. These studies will provide critical insights into the factors and mechanisms that regulate ADE vs protective immunity to DENV2 infection. This knowledge is urgently needed to inform development of DENV vaccines that protect infants and young children, the highly vulnerable populations, and other flaviviral vaccines that are safe and effective worldwide, including in countries with co-circulation of 2 or more flaviviruses. The proposed work is based on our strong track record in investigating humoral and cellular immune mechanisms during flavivirus infections using state-of-the-art mouse models. The project will also benefit from our collaborators’ expertise in Tfh cells, T cell costimulatory molecules, flaviviral Ab response in humans, development of novel vaccine platforms, and genomics assays.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $551,334 )
2025	2025	LA JOLLA INSTITUTE FOR IMMUNOLOGY	9420 ATHENA CIR	LA JOLLA	CA	92037	SAN DIEGO	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	5	3/6/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$551,334
														Subtotal = $551,334

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $568,385 )
2024	2024	LA JOLLA INSTITUTE FOR IMMUNOLOGY	9420 ATHENA CIR	LA JOLLA	CA	92037	SAN DIEGO	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	001	4	5/24/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$56,838
2024	2024	LA JOLLA INSTITUTE FOR IMMUNOLOGY	9420 ATHENA CIR	LA JOLLA	CA	92037	SAN DIEGO	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	4	2/22/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$511,547
														Subtotal = $568,385

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $568,385 )
2023	2023	LA JOLLA INSTITUTE FOR IMMUNOLOGY	9420 ATHENA CIR	LA JOLLA	CA	92037	SAN DIEGO	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	3	1/27/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$568,385
														Subtotal = $568,385

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $725,399 )
2022	2022	LA JOLLA INSTITUTE FOR IMMUNOLOGY	9420 ATHENA CIR	LA JOLLA	CA	92037	SAN DIEGO	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	2	3/1/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$725,399
														Subtotal = $725,399

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $725,399 )
2021	2021	LA JOLLA INSTITUTE FOR IMMUNOLOGY	9420 ATHENA CIR	LA JOLLA	CA	92037	SAN DIEGO	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	1	3/5/2021	NEW	$725,399
														Subtotal = $725,399

Grand Total All Awards = $3,138,902

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Maternal Antibody-Mediated Enhancement of Dengue Pathogenesis

Award Number: R01AI153500

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 03/05/2021

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 02/28/2026

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