# Core C: Immunoglobulin Proteomics in COVID-19

> **NIH NIH U54** · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · 2024 · $136,800

## Abstract

Abstract
Research Core C will be integral to the examination of serological antibody repertoires in COVID-19 study
subjects as well as in convalescent plasmas obtained from survivors. Core C will employ a set of unique
experimental techniques including a proteomic methodology (Ig-seq) for the identification of the monoclonal
sequences and for determining the epitope specificity and function of the secreted component immunoglobulins
(IgG and IgA) comprising the polyclonal response to SARS-CoV-2. The UT Core will examine the persistence of
individual serum mAb clonotypes as a function of time and also the relationships between the IgA and IgG
repertoires in circulation and in BAL. To date, all human SARS-CoV-2-reactive antibodies have been isolated
exclusively from B cells transiently circulating in the periphery. The significance of the abundance, durability, and
interconnectivity of serological antibodies—IgG versus IgA, neutralizing versus non-neutralizing, mucosal versus
systemic—shall become clear as this research core comprehensively analyzes the molecular composition of
anti-viral IgG and IgA and traces the B-cell subpopulations from which they arose. These studies will be enabled
by robust sample collections from UNC Chapel Hill and from UT Austin. We expect that the experimental
outcomes of Research Core C will clarify (i) the extent of antibody breadth and potency of the constituent IgG
and IgA in the serological repertoires and role in protection (via viral blockade or through Fc dependent
mechanisms) against endemic and zoonotic coronaviruses in mouse models (Project 1), and (ii) the detailed
molecular-level characterization of convalescent plasmas used for transfusion therapy in a COVID-19 clinical
trial (Project 2). Comparative analyses shall be performed to determine adaptive immune signatures which may
explain differential patterns among asymptomatic, oligosymptomatic, and severe disease. This research will be
critical to our understanding the nature and complexity of human antibody responses against the SARS-CoV-2
pandemic scourge.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11171013
- **Project number:** 3U54CA260543-02S2
- **Recipient organization:** UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL
- **Principal Investigator:** GREGORY C IPPOLITO
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $136,800
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2020-09-30 → 2025-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11171013

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11171013, Core C: Immunoglobulin Proteomics in COVID-19 (3U54CA260543-02S2). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11171013. Licensed CC0.

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