Germline-encoded antibodies
NIAID - National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
About This Grant
PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT The human immune system has evolved to provide rapid and long-term immunity to pathogens that humans are likely to encounter during their lifetime. Innate immunity encompasses a broad range of nonspecific immediate responses that recognize common features of pathogens. Adaptive immunity provides pathogen-specific responses that take a week or longer to develop and improve with each subsequent infection. Antibodies are derived from pools of naïve B cells that canonically have little to no affinity for pathogen-specific antigens. After initial selection based on low affinity, naïve B cells enter germinal centers where somatic hypermutation increases the average affinity of antibodies over time. Our recent studies show that the naïve B cell pool includes high- affinity germline-encoded antibodies that can neutralize RSV. RSV is a common viral infection that hospitalizes millions and kills thousands of infants worldwide, including in the United States. We hypothesize that germline- encoded antibodies serve as a pathogen-specific bridge between classical innate and adaptive immune responses, particularly for newborns and infants who are at greater risk of death in the first week of infection due to respiratory failure and sepsis. This study will focus on identifying high-affinity germline-encoded antibodies targeting viral pathogens that cause significant morbidity and mortality in infants and newborns. We will immortalize naïve B cell antibody repertoires from umbilical cord blood using yeast display technology. We will use the libraries to identify naïve antibodies that bind to viral surface antigens from twelve different viruses that cause infection in infants and newborns. We will then analyze their binding affinities, map their epitopes, and identify antibody determinants of binding. Finally, we will determine whether human immune system mice can serve are a model for high-affinity germline-encoded antibody responses to vaccination. This research has the potential to reorient and widen our understanding of the role unmutated antibodies play in pathogen control prior to the induction of adaptive immunity. These antibodies could play an important role in the protection of infants who are at higher risk of respiratory failure, sepsis, and death.
Grant Summary
Germline-encoded antibodies is a NIAID - National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases grant providing up to $815K for university, nonprofit, healthcare org. Applications are due 2031-04-30 (open). Check eligibility and apply with FindGrants.
Focus Areas
Eligibility
How to Apply
Up to $815K
2031-04-30
- 1Confirm your organization is eligible for Germline-encoded antibodies from NIAID - National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, checking organization type, location, and any population or project requirements.
- 2Gather the required documents and information, including your organization details, project plan, and budget figures.
- 3Draft your application narrative and budget addressing the funder's priorities and review criteria. FindGrants can draft each section for you to review and edit.
- 4Review every section against the requirements checklist, then export a submission-ready application pack and submit it to NIAID - National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases before the deadline.
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Germline-encoded antibodies: Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for the Germline-encoded antibodies?
Germline-encoded antibodies is offered by NIAID - National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and is generally open to university, nonprofit, healthcare org. It is open to organizations nationwide unless the funder specifies otherwise. Review the specific eligibility terms before applying, since funders set their own requirements around organization type, location, and the population or project being served.
How much funding does the Germline-encoded antibodies provide?
Germline-encoded antibodies provides up to $815K per award from NIAID - National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Actual award sizes depend on the scope of your project, available program funds, and the number of applicants, so build a budget that reflects realistic, allowable costs rather than the maximum figure.
When is the Germline-encoded antibodies deadline?
Applications for Germline-encoded antibodies are due 2031-04-30 (open). Because deadlines can change, verify the date with the funder, NIAID - National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and give yourself enough time to prepare a complete, competitive application before the close date.
How do you apply for the Germline-encoded antibodies?
To apply for Germline-encoded antibodies, confirm your eligibility, gather the required documents, and prepare a narrative and budget that address the funder's priorities. FindGrants guides you step by step and can draft each section, then exports a submission-ready application pack for this grant from NIAID - National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.