# Immune phenotyping of responses to influenza virus vaccination and infection

> **NIH NIH U19** · ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI · 2024 · $196,104

## Abstract

Summary
Project 2 of our Virus Immunity and Vaccination Human Immunology Project Consortium is dedicated to
immune phenotype the responses to influenza virus vaccination and infection in humans. We propose to find
the host features that are associated with functional differences in the magnitude and duration of the immune
response to influenza vaccination and infection in adults. In fact, there is a dire need to understand the
mechanisms that are responsible for some people to have a limited response to influenza vaccines, while
some others become protected. We take advantage of already established longitudinal cohorts by our Clinical
Core, to understand factors associated with differential responses to influenza virus vaccination. Specifically,
we will study in detail and over the course of three seasonal vaccinations, the innate (Aim 1) and adaptive (Aim
2) immune responses induced in blood in individuals known to be good or bad responders to previous
vaccinations. In order to elucidate the immunophenotypes associated with vaccination versus infection, we are
also recruiting patients with active influenza virus infection and we will study changes in their host responses
and adaptive immune status associated with infection. In addition, we will use an innovative established ex vivo
human tonsil system to study differences in immune activation after influenza virus infection and vaccination
(Aim 3). Using this primary system, we plan to observe the initiation of innate and adaptive immune responses
to different influenza viruses and vaccines at the cellular level and determine the impact of specific immune
pathways and cells in such responses. Extensive data on cytokine/chemokine levels and functional cell
populations will be collected using immune-genomics, serological, immune-phenotyping and multiplex assays
performed by our Research Cores. These studies will generate a wealth of transcriptional and functional data
related to the outputs of key innate immune and adaptive responses involved in eliciting a broad and durable
immune response against influenza. Collectively, we will define molecular signatures involved in the immune
response profiles elucidated after influenza virus infection and repeated vaccination, and we will identify
biomarkers that correlate with the magnitude and functional quality of the adaptive immune response to
influenza vaccination. Furthermore, the generated data by Project 2 on influenza virus infection and
vaccination will be integrated by our Data Management and Analysis Core with results generated in Projects
1 and 3 on human SARS-CoV-2 and dengue infections and vaccinations, in order to establish commonalities
and differences on human immune responses elicited by different viruses and vaccine platforms. This Core will
also disseminate the data to the designated HIPC Coordinating Center and appropriate public databases, such
as ImmPort.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10783785
- **Project number:** 5U19AI168631-03
- **Recipient organization:** ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI
- **Principal Investigator:** Adolfo Garcia-Sastre
- **Activity code:** U19 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $196,104
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-03-22 → 2027-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10783785

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10783785, Immune phenotyping of responses to influenza virus vaccination and infection (5U19AI168631-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10783785. Licensed CC0.

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