# Mucosal associated invariant T (MAIT) cells in Vibrio cholerae infection and vaccination

> **NIH NIH R01** · UTAH STATE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM--UNIVERSITY OF UTAH · 2021 · $359,000

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Cholera is an acute dehydrating diarrheal disease caused by infection with Vibrio cholerae. It is endemic in
over 50 countries, affecting up to 3 million people and causing more than 100,000 deaths annually worldwide.
Currently available oral cholera vaccines (OCV) achieve a lower efficacy and duration of protection in young
children compared to that seen in older children and adults, possibly due to the inability of young children to
mount polysaccharide-specific antibody responses. We have recently reported that mucosal-associated
invariant T (MAIT) cells are activated in cholera and are associated with higher class-switched V. cholerae
polysaccharide-specific antibody responses. In pilot studies, we have identified a subset of MAIT cells that
express genes associated with B cell help. Additionally, in preliminary in vitro experiments, we show that MAIT
cells can induce B cells to differentiate and produce antibodies. Thus, we hypothesize that a subset of MAIT
cells, when activated following infection or vaccination, undergo clonal expansion and provide help to B cells
through MR1-dependent and -independent interactions to enhance polysaccharide-specific antibody
production. In collaboration with the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh
(ICDDR,B), we propose to determine the role that MAIT cells play in the adaptive response against V. cholerae
infection and vaccination. In Aim 1, we will characterize the clonal expansions of MAIT cells during human V.
cholerae infection and oral cholera vaccination. We will test the hypothesis that there is a subset of MAIT cells
that express factors consistent with B cell help, and that this subset has lower activation and expansion in
young child vaccinees compared to older child vaccinees and infected young children. In Aim 2, we will
determine the mechanisms through which MAIT cells affect B cell differentiation and antibody production. We
will test the hypotheses that MAIT cells provide help to B cells through both MR1-dependent and MR1-
independent (cytokine-mediated) interactions with B cells, and that MAIT cells of young children have deficits
in one or more of these mechanisms compared to MAIT cells in older children. At the completion of these
studies, we will have gained new information on the capacity of MAIT cells to impact polysaccharide-specific
antibody responses, which are associated with protection against cholera. This information has the potential to
critically inform the development of better vaccine strategies targeted at preventing cholera and other enteric
infections in young children.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10153667
- **Project number:** 5R01AI130378-05
- **Recipient organization:** UTAH STATE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM--UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
- **Principal Investigator:** Daniel Ted Leung
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $359,000
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-06-22 → 2023-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10153667

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10153667, Mucosal associated invariant T (MAIT) cells in Vibrio cholerae infection and vaccination (5R01AI130378-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10153667. Licensed CC0.

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