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Breastmilk antibodies regulate neonatal immunity to the microbiota

Award Number: R01AI173199
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: 02/01/2023
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 01/31/2028
AWARD TERMINATION DATE: 04/21/2025

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Breastmilk antibodies regulate neonatal immunity to the microbiota - PROJECT SUMMARY To maintain health, the host must avoid generating inflammatory responses to beneficial gut bacteria, while retaining the ability to respond to pathogens. Maintaining this balance is particularly complicated in early life as many of the mechanisms that serve to promote tolerance to resident commensal microbes in adults are either absent or not yet established during this period. We recently identified maternal antibodies as key regulators of host-microbiota mutualism in neonates. Specifically, we found that in addition to IgA, healthy mothers generate microbiota-reactive IgG antibodies, which are transmitted via breastmilk and coat bacteria in the neonatal gut. In comparison with control offspring, neonates that do not receive these maternal isotypes harbor increased numbers of commensal bacteria in gut draining lymph nodes, mount inappropriate, microbiota-driven CD4 T- dependent immune responses, and suffer increased morbidity when subjected to a chemical form of colitis. Building from these exciting findings, this proposal seeks to understand the mechanisms by which maternal antibodies regulate nascent host-microbiota interactions in neonates. Specifically, we will determine the antigen specificities and the effector mechanisms (e.g., complement activation or Fc receptor ligation) required for distinct maternal IgG isotypes to restrain neonatal adaptive immune responses to beneficial gut bacteria. Additionally, we will define the signaling pathways and cell types required to trigger dysregulated adaptive immune responses in offspring that do not receive breastmilk antibodies. We will employ innovative approaches to achieve these goals by leveraging fostering and optimized infant feeding approaches with transgenic mouse models and multi-parameter flow cytometry. These studies are significant because they address key gaps in our knowledge regarding how favorable relationships between the host and resident microbiota are established in early life. Additionally, our work will also advance our understanding of the mechanisms by which breastfeeding promotes health. We expect that the insight gained from this research will significantly aid in our ability to manipulate host-microbiota interactions and mucosal immunity during early life, regardless of mode of nutrition.


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: 2026 ( Subtotal = $648,715 )
2026	2026	FRED HUTCHINSON CANCER CENTER	1100 FAIRVIEW AVE N	SEATTLE	WA	98109	KING	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	4	1/24/2026	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$648,715
														Subtotal = $648,715

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $624,131 )
2025	2025	FRED HUTCHINSON CANCER CENTER	1100 FAIRVIEW AVE N	SEATTLE	WA	98109	KING	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	3	1/22/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$624,131
2025	2024	FRED HUTCHINSON CANCER CENTER	1100 FAIRVIEW AVE N	SEATTLE	WA	98109	KING	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	001	2	4/21/2025	TERMINATION	$0
														Subtotal = $624,131

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $781,716 )
2024	2024	FRED HUTCHINSON CANCER CENTER	1100 FAIRVIEW AVE N	SEATTLE	WA	98109	KING	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	1	11/21/2023	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$32,609
2024	2024	FRED HUTCHINSON CANCER CENTER	1100 FAIRVIEW AVE N	SEATTLE	WA	98109	KING	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	002	2	2/21/2024	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$100,392
2024	2024	FRED HUTCHINSON CANCER CENTER	1100 FAIRVIEW AVE N	SEATTLE	WA	98109	KING	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	003	2	5/24/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$64,871
2024	2024	FRED HUTCHINSON CANCER CENTER	1100 FAIRVIEW AVE N	SEATTLE	WA	98109	KING	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	001	2	2/5/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$583,844
														Subtotal = $781,716

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $643,435 )
2023	2023	FRED HUTCHINSON CANCER CENTER	1100 FAIRVIEW AVE N	SEATTLE	WA	98109	KING	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	1	1/30/2023	NEW	$643,435
														Subtotal = $643,435

Grand Total All Awards = $2,697,997

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Breastmilk antibodies regulate neonatal immunity to the microbiota

Award Number: R01AI173199

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: 02/01/2023

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 01/31/2028

AWARD TERMINATION DATE: 04/21/2025

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