# Structural Biology Core

> **NIH NIH P01** · SCRIPPS RESEARCH INSTITUTE, THE · 2023 · $362,000

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT
Bacterial antibiotic resistance is a major global health threat. Our proposal aims to develop
immunotherapies focused on the surface glycans of bacteria as a potential paradigm shift in the
fight against life-threatening bacteria, for which current therapeutic options are limited. We aim to
develop novel antibody-based vaccines and antibody therapeutics to help meet the evolving
challenge presented by these bacteria. In particular, the grant will focus on developing and
characterizing antibodies and MHC class II to four classes of glycans and glycopeptides from the
capsular antigens, peptidoglycans, teichoic acids and O-linked glycans from three organisms:
Staphylococcus aureus (Sa), Klebsiella pneumoniae (Kp), and Neisseria gonorrhea (Ng). The
glycan antigens will be presented to the immune system linked to peptides and conjugated to
chemically defined sites on virus-like particles.
The Structural Biology Core 3 will utilize high-throughput x-ray crystallography with state-of-the
art tools, instrumentation and facilities to structurally and biophysically characterize the elicited
antibodies in complex with the glycans used for immunization. In addition, we will examine
complexes of MHC Class II molecules with designed glycopeptides to explore how these unique
structures are presented to T cells. Our structural results will be used to guide iterative rounds of
modifications to the antigens, linkers and peptides with Projects 1-4 and Cores 1,2 to focus and
enhance the immune response to these challenging targets. The structures will also guide in the
engineering of antibodies to improve their therapeutic potential with Project 4 and Core 2. All
studies will be coordinated through the Administrative Core.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10549644
- **Project number:** 1P01AI172525-01
- **Recipient organization:** SCRIPPS RESEARCH INSTITUTE, THE
- **Principal Investigator:** IAN A WILSON
- **Activity code:** P01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $362,000
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2023-05-09 → 2028-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10549644

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10549644, Structural Biology Core (1P01AI172525-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10549644. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*