# Cytotoxic T Cell Mediated Immunity to Chlamydia

> **NIH NIH R01** · HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL · 2021 · $839,392

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
 Infection with Chlamydia trachomatis is responsible for significant morbidity and healthcare costs
throughout the world. Work from our lab has demonstrated that T cells are a key mediator of immune
protection against C. trachomatis. Our long-term goal has been to gain an understanding of how CD8+ T cells
are stimulated in response to C. trachomatis infection. The reagents we have developed have allowed us to
use contemporary approaches in cellular immunology to define how Chlamydia-specific T cells respond to
infection. We have shown that transfer of cultured Chlamydia-specific CD8+ T cells into mice can protect
against infection, yet surprisingly, a protective CD8+ T cell memory response is not stimulated following natural
infection of mice or people. The apparent failure of the adaptive immune system to effectively clear the
organism and/or prevent repeat infection is a hallmark of human infection with C. trachomatis, resulting in
sequelae of infection such as permanent reproductive tract damage. Consistent with these findings in humans,
we have observed that CD8+ T cells respond extremely well to primary infection, yet the memory cells that
result from initial infection have impaired recall during subsequent encounters with the organism.
 Here, our goal is to 1) understand the mechanism by which CD8+ T memory is inhibited during infection
and develop methods to overcome it, and 2) identify vaccine formulations that stimulate protective CD8+ T cells
and test their capacity to enhance vaccine-mediated CD4+ T cell immunity. The vaccine strategies we will use
build on a successful experimental approach using nanoparticles encapsulating an adjuvant and bound to
whole inactivated organisms. Ultimately, we anticipate this work will drive selection of appropriate strategies
for vaccine development that provide robust protection against C. trachomatis.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10122172
- **Project number:** 2R01AI039558-25
- **Recipient organization:** HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL
- **Principal Investigator:** MICHAEL N STARNBACH
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $839,392
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 1996-07-01 → 2026-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10122172

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10122172, Cytotoxic T Cell Mediated Immunity to Chlamydia (2R01AI039558-25). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10122172. Licensed CC0.

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