# Functional profiling of OSP-specific and other antibodies during shigella infection

> **NIH NIH R01** · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · 2020 · $780,195

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Shigella infection is a leading cause of diarrheal illness in young children in resource-limited settings,
and results in tens of thousands of deaths each year. Protection against shigellosis is associated
with antibodies targeting O-specific polysaccharide (OSP), but immune responses against other
antigens have also been noted to correlate with protection. Functional attributes of anti-shigella
antibodies have also been noted to correlate with protection, including complement activation and
ability to induce host cell phagocytic activity. Despite this, a shigella OSP-conjugate vaccine failed to
protect young children in a field trial, despite providing protection in older children and adults. We
propose that such issues may reflect differences not only in antibody magnitude (titer) following
vaccination, but also differences in antibody functional effector attributes, including Fc interactions
with the innate immune system. Such differences have been noted to correlate with protection
against a range of infectious pathogens. To address this, we propose to define antibody functional
and biophysical attributes associated with protection against shigella infection, including in young
children, using a household contact study design approach in an informal settlement area in Dhaka,
Bangladesh. We propose to complement this analysis with data from North American vaccine and
Controlled Human Infection Models (CHIMs) and related studies. We anticipate that we will identify a
profile of antibody attributes that correlates with protection against shigellosis, that this knowledge
will critically guide vaccine development and evaluation efforts, and that this knowledge will focus
future mechanistic studies.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10087677
- **Project number:** 1R01AI155414-01
- **Recipient organization:** MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Edward T. Ryan
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $780,195
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-09-22 → 2025-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10087677

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10087677, Functional profiling of OSP-specific and other antibodies during shigella infection (1R01AI155414-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10087677. Licensed CC0.

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