# Project 2:  Molecular Signatures of West Nile virus susceptibility

> **NIH NIH U19** · YALE UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $382,787

## Abstract

Abstract
 Individual variations in immune status and function shape responses to infection and contribute to
disease severity and outcome. Infections with West Nile virus can be asymptomatic or severe, even
leading to death, and no effective therapies or vaccines are available. Thus, identifying molecular
signatures of immunity and phenotypes of susceptibility is essential to guide development of improved
diagnostics, therapeutic interventions and future vaccines. We propose studies with a coordinated
Systems approach for investigation of stratified subjects with West Nile viral infections to define how
components of the immune response contribute to divergent outcomes. We will employ recent advances
in high-throughput and high-resolution technology to profile individual immune responses in order to
identify the molecular signatures defining divergent responses to West Nile virus infections. We
will use shared platforms such as CyTOF, metabolomics, and innovative nanowell cytometry linked to
single cell RNA-seq to provide insight into the immune responses to WNV. Our coordinated in-depth
systems analysis includes for the first time the phenotype and functionality of neutrophils, platelets, and
metabolomics in divergent clinical outcomes. Through integrating multiple immune components, we will
define response profiles that correlate with successful outcome of infection. Strengths of our proposal are
the well characterized clinical populations, the coordinated in-depth interrogation of multiple cell types
and responses, the experienced and coordinated research team, the interrogation and integration of
multiple variables that influence immune responses, and established HIPC consortium networks.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10079824
- **Project number:** 5U19AI089992-10
- **Recipient organization:** YALE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** RUTH R MONTGOMERY
- **Activity code:** U19 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $382,787
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2010-07-12 → 2022-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10079824

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10079824, Project 2:  Molecular Signatures of West Nile virus susceptibility (5U19AI089992-10). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10079824. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*