Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is the most frequent cause of congenital infection and a leading non-genetic cause of hearing loss and neurologic disabilities in children, yet no efficacious preventative vaccine is available. About 50% of infants exposed to HCMV in breast milk will become infected by 6 months of age providing a natural HCMV acquisition model with a unique opportunity to define antiviral immune responses that prevent transmission at the mucosal surface. Studies of T cell-mediated immunity in breast milk have been limited. In humans, little is known about the types of T cells and their function in breast milk and whether they play a role in the control and the transmission of pathogens to the infant. In addition, this information will allow us to begin to understand what effector T cell populations are desirable for effective vaccines and/or immunotherapies. This knowledge is especially pertinent in the context of HCMV transmission to the infant via breast milk because this is a unique in vivo model of natural HCMV acquisition in humans. Lastly, these studies will also add new information to the study of human mucosal immunology. !

Public Health Relevance

The hallmark of vaccine success is the generation of effective immunologic memory, which provides long-term protection against infection. An optimal vaccine needs to generate protective immune responses at the site of infection, however the study of T cell immunity in breast milk is lacking. This proposal will study memory HCMV-specific T cells and their role in control of HCMV in breast milk, in order to better understand virus transmission to infants.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21)
Project #
1R21AI151235-01
Application #
9954983
Study Section
Immunity and Host Defense (IHD)
Program Officer
Beisel, Christopher E
Project Start
2020-02-19
Project End
2022-01-31
Budget Start
2020-02-19
Budget End
2021-01-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2020
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Alabama Birmingham
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
063690705
City
Birmingham
State
AL
Country
United States
Zip Code
35294