# Project 1 - System Biological Analyses of Innate Responses to Vaccination

> **NIH NIH U19** · EMORY UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $400,813

## Abstract

ABSTRACT 
Systems vaccinology approaches are defining molecular signatures that can predict vaccine induced immune 
responses in humans. These studies have mostly used healthy adults and two important vaccine target 
populations, children and the elderly, have not been examined in detail. In this proposal we extend the systems 
vaccinology approach to these two target populations at the extremes of age; infants (12-15 months old) and the 
elderly over 70 years. Herpes zoster (shingles), which is caused by VZV, affects several million 
people/year globally and is a significant public health concern for the elderly. Zostavax®, the currently licensed 
live VZV vaccine against zoster, has limited efficacy in subjects >70yrs old. An investigational recombinant 
glycoprotein E subunit vaccine (gE vaccine) has shown promising results in phase I trials but no comparative 
studies have been done with these two vaccines. In Aim 1 we will undertake a systems level analysis of innate 
responses induced by the live Zostavax® versus gE vaccine in the elderly, and identify molecular correlates of 
adaptive immunity (Project 2). These studies will provide insight into the molecular networks driving immunity 
induced by these zoster vaccines. VZV also causes chickenpox in children and the live Varivax® vaccine is 
highly effective in preventing chickenpox yet there is a paucity of knowledge about the nature of innate and 
adaptive immunity to vaccination in the pediatric population. In Aim 2 we will conduct a systems analysis of 
innate responses induced by Varivax® in infants and children, and define signature that predict adaptive 
immunity (Project 2). These studies in Aims 1 and 2 should provide new insights into understanding the immune 
response to the same vaccine at the two extremes of age. Finally, in Aim 3, we will use systems vaccinology 
approaches to probe the immune response of transplant recipients to vaccination against pneumococcal 
diseases. Our proposed studies with this immunocompromised population that is at high risk against invasive 
pneumococcal disease could provide new guidelines for pneumococcal vaccination in transplant recipients. 
These studies will yield important new insights into the mechanisms underpinning 
vaccine-induced immunity in these special target populations, and help define molecular signatures that predict 
immunogenicity.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10146543
- **Project number:** 4U19AI090023-11
- **Recipient organization:** EMORY UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** BALI PULENDRAN
- **Activity code:** U19 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $400,813
- **Award type:** 4C
- **Project period:** 2020-07-01 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10146543

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10146543, Project 1 - System Biological Analyses of Innate Responses to Vaccination (4U19AI090023-11). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10146543. Licensed CC0.

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