# Mechanistic evaluation of Th2-polarizing bystander effects of early life immunization with alum

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · 2022 · $195,000

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Prophylactic immunization has substantially improved human health. While vaccines have been a major
achievement in advancing human health, adjuvant options for vaccines are extremely limited. While alum-based
adjuvants are the main immunostimulants used in vaccines, the mechanisms of action remain poorly understood,
especially relating to the long-lasting immune effects on the immature neonatal and infant immune system. Until
now, the focus on mechanism of action of alum has centered around antigen-specific effects in boosting immunity
to the immunogen delivered with alum. Our preliminary data demonstrate that immunization of 21 day old mice
with hepatits B virus (HB) alum vaccine alters the response to subsequent inhalation exposure to newly
introduced immunogens. Mice that had not been previously immunized with the alum-based vaccine developed
tolerogenic immune responses to the novel immunogen. Alternatively, mice that received the alum vaccine were
predisposed to developing Th2-polarized immune responses to the novel immunogen which led to allergic
reactions to challenge. Here, we aim to determine the contribution of alum-driven bystander effects on immune
responses to newly introduced immunogens. This proposal is designed to generate proof-of-concept that early
life immunization with alum results in Th2 imprinting that does not occur following alum immunization later in life.
We propose to test our hypothesis that early life immunization with alum prolongs the Th2-bias of the neonatal
immune system by 1) determining the impact of age at the time of alum immunization on maintenance of a Th2-
biased immune system and 2) defining the mechanism by which immunization with the HB-alum vaccine
modulates immune responses to subsequently introduced immunogens. Thus, furthering our understanding of
how early life immunization with alum-based vaccines maintain a Th2-biased immune system is important for
rational vaccine design as well as implementation of vaccine schedules. This is especially important to
understand as infants receiving many vaccines which contain alum, including the HB vaccine which is given at
birth. Definition of the mechanisms of action of adjuvants in early-life compared to later in life may lead to the
development of age-specific adjuvants in order to maintain the public health benefit of vaccination while reducing
broad effects on the immune system that may lead to immune pathologies later in life.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10312801
- **Project number:** 5R21AI155944-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR
- **Principal Investigator:** Jessica Jane O'Konek
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $195,000
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-12-15 → 2022-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10312801

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10312801, Mechanistic evaluation of Th2-polarizing bystander effects of early life immunization with alum (5R21AI155944-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10312801. Licensed CC0.

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