# Maternally acquired immunity in protection against enterotoxigenic E. coli infections in infants

> **NIH NIH R56** · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $571,071

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) is a leading cause of diarrhea, that continues to be associated with significant
morbidity, mortality and stunting, among children <5 years of age living in low and middle income countries
(LMIC). Although many ETEC vaccines are in clinical trials, none are currently licensed. To avoid further
morbidity and mortality due to ETEC, an efficacious vaccine given effectively is urgently required.
While the logical target group for ETEC vaccine would be infants, children in LMICs have been difficult to
effectively immunize with other oral vaccines. To address this critical problem of low oral vaccine immune
responses among infants in LMICs, an alternative strategy for protecting infants against ETEC needs to be
explored. We hypothesize that maternal immunity may contribute to protecting infants from ETEC. However, the
protective benefits and the components of maternal immunity associated with protection in infants from enteric
infections like ETEC has not been widely studied. Therefore, if this route of passive immunity is feasible for ETEC
is uncertain.
Our aim is to study natural infections of ETEC in the mothers and babies to determine if the maternal antibodies
to ETEC could prevent ETEC infections in children. We will also identify the ETEC antigens that are immunogenic
and whose humoral immunity is transferable and protective to the neonates. Our specific hypothesis is that the
antibodies to ETEC heat labile toxins, colonization factors and specific novel antigens transferred through breast
milk would protect the infants from ETEC diarrhea and asymptomatic infections. ETEC-antibodies in the cord
blood may also contribute to this protection. This passive protection may be enhanced by the bioactive factors
like cytokines in the breastmilk and cord blood. To address our aims, we will enroll pregnant mothers and
newborn dyads and follow them for two years of the child's age in Lima, Peru.
This study will uncover the possibility of a more effective immunization approach for protecting infants from ETEC
infections in the first year of life and beyond.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11125019
- **Project number:** 1R56AI168316-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Subhra Chakraborty
- **Activity code:** R56 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $571,071
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-08-14 → 2025-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11125019

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11125019, Maternally acquired immunity in protection against enterotoxigenic E. coli infections in infants (1R56AI168316-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-12 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11125019. Licensed CC0.

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