# Mechanisms of commensal bacteria induced humoral immunity

> **NIH NIH R35** · UPSTATE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $407,500

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
 The microbiome affects many aspects of human health and has been linked to diseases such as
obesity, inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, and allergy. The balance between host and commensal
bacteria is well maintained in most healthy individuals. One host factor that contributes to intestinal
homeostasis is antibody of the IgA subclass. Plasma cells that produce IgA are found in mucosal tissues such
as the lamina propria of the gut, but they can also be found in systemic sites including the bone marrow.
However, high levels of bone marrow IgA are only found in the presence of certain consortia of bacteria.
Increased frequencies of bone marrow IgA-secreting plasma cells are associated with increased concentration
of serum IgA that has been shown to be protective in a sepsis model of polymicrobial dissemination. The
mechanisms by which bacteria induce systemic IgA responses are unknown. The main goal of this proposal is
to take an unbiased approach to defining gene-level mechanisms used by commensal bacteria to induce
systemic IgA. Additionally, we will examine how inter-species interactions contribute to systemic IgA specificity.
Together, this proposal will provide a framework for understanding how systemic antibody responses are
induced in response to commensal bacteria. This understanding could lead to novel therapies aimed at
maintaining intestinal homeostasis or using commensal bacteria as a vaccine delivery system. This proposal
will support the overall vision of our research program to understand the complex interplay at the interface of
bacteria and host by deciphering gene-level mechanisms used by bacteria to induce IgA responses.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10848339
- **Project number:** 5R35GM147560-03
- **Recipient organization:** UPSTATE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Joel R Wilmore
- **Activity code:** R35 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $407,500
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-07-15 → 2027-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10848339

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10848339, Mechanisms of commensal bacteria induced humoral immunity (5R35GM147560-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10848339. Licensed CC0.

---

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