# Identification of Immunologic Mechanisms of Enhanced Ng Clearance Induced by Nm OMV-based Vaccines

> **NIH NIH U19** · HENRY M. JACKSON FDN FOR THE ADV MIL/MED · 2020 · $369,822

## Abstract

Abstract
Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Ng) is the most prevalent sexually transmitted bacterial pathogen globally, and
gonococcal antibiotic resistance continues to rise. Potentially untreatable gonorrhea is recognized as an urgent
threat by WHO and the US CDC. Gonococcal vaccine development is critical to help stem the spread of
antimicrobial resistant Ng. Because naturally-acquired infection does not result in immunity from subsequent
infection, immune responses required for protection from infection have never been definitively established for
N. gonorrhoeae. Recently, a vaccine has been developed for N. meningitidis (Nm) serogroup B, and mass
vaccination campaigns with this outer membrane vesicle (OMV)-containing vaccine have demonstrated
collateral reduction in gonorrhea rates. Nm-OMV vaccines also show protection in a mouse model of genital
Ng infection. For the first time,we have the opportunity to study both human and murine immune responses to
effective vaccines, and identify likely correlates of protection. Project 1 in the Gonorrhea Vaccine Cooperative
Research Center (GV CRC) will (1) determine whether murine humoral immune responses to Nm-OMV-
containing vaccines are important in protection from Ng infection; (2) identify murine cellular immune
mechanisms induced by Nm-OMV-containing vaccines that contribute to protection from Ng infection; and (3)
determine humoral and cellular immune responses to Ng antigens induced by Nm-OMV-containing vaccine in
humans. Defining immunologic mechanisms that provide protection from Ng infection is critical to advancing
Ng vaccine development.!We will engage with all 4 scientific cores of the GV CRC. Our studies will set the
stage for clinical evaluation of Nm-OMV vaccines for protection from Ng and will inform vaccine development
plans in other GV CRC projects.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9900726
- **Project number:** 5U19AI144180-02
- **Recipient organization:** HENRY M. JACKSON FDN FOR THE ADV MIL/MED
- **Principal Investigator:** JOSEPH A DUNCAN
- **Activity code:** U19 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $369,822
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** — → —

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9900726

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9900726, Identification of Immunologic Mechanisms of Enhanced Ng Clearance Induced by Nm OMV-based Vaccines (5U19AI144180-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9900726. Licensed CC0.

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