Official websites use .gov

A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS

A lock ( 🔒 ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Need Help

Genomics approaches to investigate the evolution of germinal center responses

Award Number: R21AI199322
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: 05/21/2026
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 04/30/2028

Group Awards By:

View Award Description

Genomics approaches to investigate the evolution of germinal center responses - Specific Aims The germinal center (GC) is a site of rapid B cell proliferation and diversification that is induced in re- sponse to infection or immunization with T cell-dependent antigens. Within the GC, B cells undergo somatic hypermutation followed by affinity maturation to select high-affinity B cells. Development of GCs is dependent on B cell-T cell collaboration, with T cells providing CD40 ligand and cytokines that support the B cell response. These processes have been studied in detail in humans and in mouse models, given the crucial importance of GCs in anti-pathogen immune responses and in vaccine-specific responses. On the other hand, there is less understanding of the evolutionary processes that gave rise to the GC responses.GCs are found in mammals, including primitive mammals such as monotremes. However, they are absent from reptiles, amphibians and fish. Despite the lack of GCs in reptiles, many of the genes involved in development and function of GCs are present, including AICDA, BCL6, CD40, CD40LG, CXCR5, ICOS, ICOSLG, DOCK8, IFR4, IFR8, etc. Therefore, many of the genes involved in regulating GC responses predate the evolutionary origin of GCs and these genes may have been co-opted during evolution to serve new roles in GC biology. In the proposed study, advanced ge- nomics and bioinformatics techniques will be used to examine the spleen of the red-eared slider turtle Trachemys scripta with the goal of understanding the roles GC-related genes in this species and how the regulatory pro- grams driven by these pathways were co-opted to GC responses. scRNA-seq will be used to define immune cell subsets and types in the spleen of T. scripta, while spatial transcriptomics will be used to understand the spatial organization of these cells and their potential interactions. This information will help us to understand the regu- lation evolutionary transitions and biological adaptations. Comparisons to similar data in mice will be used to define how turtles differ from mice in terms of immune subsets and responses and to gain insight into how GC responses may have arisen from genetic programs controlling other pathways. While our studies focus on the GC response, the unbiased genomics approaches we are pursuing will yield valuable information on other as- pects of immunity, both adaptive and innate immune responses, that will be very valuable in understanding how the immune system developed in mammals.


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 = $199,524 )
2026	2026	THE RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK	520 LEE ENTRANCE STE 211	AMHERST	NY	14228	ERIE	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	1	5/21/2026	NEW	$199,524
														Subtotal = $199,524

Grand Total All Awards = $199,524

Top

All Categories

About

Search

Reports

Data Submission

Award Information

Genomics approaches to investigate the evolution of germinal center responses

Award Number: R21AI199322

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: 05/21/2026

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 04/30/2028

Federal Websites

Department of Health & Human Services

HHS Operating Divisions

HHS Staff Divisions

Download A Document Viewer