# Development of ganglioside specific IgGs for the treatment of Guillian-Barré Syndrome

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA · 2024 · $228,998

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Campylobacter jejuni is the leading cause of bacterial foodborne diarrheal disease in the USA. The majority of
C. jejuni isolates express surface glycans mimicking human gangliosides that play a key role in triggering
Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) through formation of anti-ganglioside antibodies (Abs) that fix complement onto
human neurons and Schwann cells. Due to the commonality of C. jejuni infection worldwide, GBS has now
become the leading cause of paralysis since the near-eradication of polio. Patient treatment involves use of
intravenous immunoglobulin G (IVIg) intended to compete with these auto-antibodies, but up to one-third of
patients do not respond to this treatment. We hypothesize that specific IgGs exist in the B cell repertoire of
Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) patients that can be exploited for GBS therapeutic development. We will
screen B cells derived from former GBS patients for anti-ganglioside IgG expression using human Ab isolation
to identify IgG sequences linked with pathogenesis. These Abs will be tested in competition ELISAs and C. jejuni
serum bactericidal assays. The most effective Abs will be verified on human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived
Schwann cells and assessed on hPSC-derived myelinated peripheral neurons measuring electrical activity and
myelin complex disruption. Candidate IgGs will be transformed into therapeutic blocking Abs by Fc modification
and tested against the original Abs in our combined assays. The most effective blocking Abs will then be tested
on two IVIg-responder and two IVIg-non-responder patient induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neurons
in comparison to pooled immunoglobulins typically used for IVIg treatment. This study will identify therapeutic
blocking antibodies for the development of a targeted GBS treatment.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10810980
- **Project number:** 1R21AI175925-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Christine M. Szymanski
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $228,998
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-02-19 → 2025-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10810980

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10810980, Development of ganglioside specific IgGs for the treatment of Guillian-Barré Syndrome (1R21AI175925-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10810980. Licensed CC0.

---

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