# Generating protective immunity to Staphylococcus aureus

> **NIH NIH R01** · CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CENTER · 2020 · $581,032

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
S. aureus causes rampant infection worldwide and poses a significant threat to public health. With the spread of
antibiotic resistance, there has been a major push to develop an effective vaccine against S. aureus. However,
despite decades of effort and for unknown reasons, all S. aureus vaccines tested in clinical trials have failed.
Our preliminary work in mouse models suggests that use of the right adjuvants could be the key to developing a
successful vaccine. We showed that a combination of β-glucan (derived from fungal cell walls) and stimulatory
molecules from S. aureus synergize to provide robust Th17-mediated protection to S. aureus reinfection. Here,
we will study mechanisms underlying immune protection stimulated by these adjuvants. We will explore the
molecular mechanisms and parameters that determine the efficacy and duration of protection. We will further
investigate the efficacy of the protection in a humanized mouse model of S. aureus infection. The study will
provide a better fundamental understanding of how an improved protective immune response to S. aureus can
be induced.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9920668
- **Project number:** 5R01AI127406-04
- **Recipient organization:** CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** George Y Liu
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $581,032
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-06-26 → 2022-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9920668

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9920668, Generating protective immunity to Staphylococcus aureus (5R01AI127406-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9920668. Licensed CC0.

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