Showing grants 1 to 10 of 383 | A Bacterial Protease Inhibitor is a Mucosal Adjuvant | | | Juliana Cassataro, Universidad de Buenos Aires-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina - AR |
| | | | | Juliana Cassataro of Universidad de Buenos Aires-CONICET in Argentina will research whether a bacterial protein can function as both a protease inhibitor to protect antigens delivered in an oral vaccine from degradation and also as an adjuvant to stimulate an enhanced mucosal immune response. |
| A Novel Method for Controlling Fertility and STD | | | Robert Aitken, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Northern Mariana Islands, Australia - AU |
| | | | | John Aitken of the University of Newcastle in Australia will study the mechanisms by which organic compounds called quinones may provide simultaneous protection against pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease. Aitken will test the capability of quinones to react to enzymes in semen and not only immobilize sperm, but also disrupt the infective nature of pathogenic microbes found in STD infections such as Chlamydia |
| Nano-Dumbbells for Single-Molecule Diagnostics from Saliva | | | Krassen Dimitrov, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia - AU |
| | | | | Krassen Dimitrov of the University of Queensland in Australia will develop a new diagnostic test which utilizes nanoparticles which bind to specific biomarkers in saliva that are present during infection. With a magnetic particle binding to one side of a biomarker and a non-magnetic particle attaching to the other side, a visual “dumbbell” is formed, which can be detected using a low-cost magnetic reader. |
| Viral Self-Destruct Sequences: A Novel Vaccine Technology | | | David Jans, Monash University, Clayton, Australia - AU |
| | | | | Gregory Moseley, Stephen Rawlinson and David Jans at Monash University in Australia will engineer a live virus with a self-destruct sequence for use in a vaccine. This virus would be identical to a wild-type virus, but contain destabilizing domains fused to key proteins that can be regulated to first allow the virus to replicate and induce an immune response, and then be destroyed. |
| Women-Controlled Contraception That Also Prevents HIV | | | Guiying Nie, Prince Henry's Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Australia - AU |
| | | | | Guiying Nie of Prince Henry's Institute of Medical Research in Australia will test whether a peptide inhibitor that has been shown to inhibit protein processing critical to HIV transmission can also be used to prevent embryo implantation in the uterus. If successful, the peptide could be used as a non-hormonal contraceptive delivered as a vaginal application, which also protects against HIV. |
| A Toxin-Binding Probiotic for Prevention Of ETEC Diarrhea | | | Adrienne Paton, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia - AU |
| | | | | Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) cause diarrhea by producing two distinct enterotoxins that attack intestinal cells. Adrienne Paton and colleagues at the University of Adelaide in Australia propose to develop a harmless probiotic bacterium capable of binding and neutralizing both these enterotoxins by mimicking their respective receptors, thereby preventing disease. |
| Vaccine Cytokine Trap Technology to Induce Immunity | | | Charani Ranasinghe, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia - AU |
| | | | | Charani Ranasinghe of The Australian National University will test a new vaccine technology that modulates a host cytokine response to HIV vaccines. If successful, this “cytokine trap” technology may also enhance T-cell mediated immunity to other vaccine antigens, such as Tuberculosis. |
| Improve Mucosal Immune Responses to Oral Typhoid Vaccine | | | Firdausi Qadri, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh - BD |
| | | | | Firdausi QadriI of International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research (ICDDR,B) in Bangladesh proposes that the presence of parasites in the guts of people who receive enteric vaccines diminishes the resulting immune response. Qadril hopes that by providing children with antihelminthic and anti-giardiasis drugs prior to administration of an oral typhoid vaccine, a robust immune response can be mounted. |
| Bacteriophage Lambda Mucosal Vaccine Delivery System | | | Sylvia van den Hurk, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada - CA |
| | | | | Sylvia van den Hurk and Sidney Hayes of the University of Saskatchewan in Canada proposes that bacteriophage lambda, a virus that invades bacterial cells and uses the host’s genome to replicate, can be used as a vector to deliver DNA vaccines into targeted cells. Van den Hurk will test this lambda delivery platform its ability to induce long-term systemic and mucosal immune responses. |
| Simple Early Breath Diagnosis of Pneumococcal Pneumonia | | | Hongyue Dang, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao, China - CN |
| | | | | Hongyue Dang, of China University of Petroleum (East China) will research whether early-stage pneumonia infection produces specific biomarkers that can be detected in a breath analysis. If so, Dang will produce and test a prototype breath sensor device that can be used in low-resource settings to capture and analyze these signature chemical compounds as a method to diagnose pneumonia. |
Showing grants 11 to 20 of 383 | Hivi: A Novel Weapon to Kill HIV | | | Chang Liu, Nankai University School of Medicine, Tianjin, China - CN |
| | | | | Chang Liu and Xiaohong Kong of Nankai University in China seek to develop a self-destructive virus vector called HIVi, which will express small interfering RNA to silence HIV in infected cells, and also replicate in a controlled manner to outcompete the HIV infection before turning itself off. The efficacy of HIVi in interfering with HIV will be assessed using a number of standard HIV cell-based assays. |
| POLMITRANSVAC “Pollen Mimetic Transcutaneous Vaccination” | | | Carlos Alberto Guzman, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany - DE |
| | | | | Carlos Alberto Guzman of the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research in Germany with Claus-Michael Lehr and Steffi Hansen of the Helmholtz-Institute for Pharmaceutical Research will develop and test a vaccine platform that uses a nanoparticle that mimics pollen, which has been shown to be able to penetrate the skin through hair follicles. The nanoparticle will burst upon contact with human sweat, releasing adjuvants and antigens to deliver a vaccine by targeting dendritic cells that surround hair follicles. |
| Sweet Medicine For Vectors Transmitting Infectious Diseases | | | Heribert Warzecha, Darmstadt University of Technology, Darmstadt, Germany - DE |
| | | | | Heribert Warzecha of Darmstadt University of Technology in Germany will develop a peptide that can be reproduced in plants that generate nectar on which mosquitoes feed. This peptide, when ingested by the mosquitoes, interrupts the parasite transmission process in the insect gut, reducing the risk of transmission to humans. |
| Biologic Contraceptive | | | Rachel Teitelbaum, Hervana, Ltd, Beit Shemesh, Israel - IL |
| | | | | Rachel Teitelbaum of Hervana, Ltd. in Israel will develop and test a vaginal formulation that secretes an agent which inhibits sperm motility thus interfering with fertilization. It is hoped that this non-hormonal contraceptive will need only infrequent administration to maintain its effectiveness. |
| Biological Control For Sandflies Using Free-Living Fungi | | | Peter Ngure, Daystar University, Nairobi, Kenya - KE |
| | | | | Peter Ngure of Daystar University in Kenya seeks to develop a biological control for sandflies using fungi found in the local soil in Kenya. These entomopathogenic fungi, which attach like parasites onto adult insects and larvae and kill them, will be harvested and cultured to isolate virulent strains that can eradicate sandflies, which are responsible for the spread of visceral leishmaniasis. |
| A Zeolite Hydrogel 'Nano-Mop' For Contraception | | | Benson Wamalwa, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya - KE |
| | | | | Benson Wamalwa of the University of Nairobi in Kenya will develop and test a vaginal gel that contains zeolite nanoparticles which soak up the fructose present in semen. By “mopping” up the fructose, this gel will rob sperm of the energy needed for motility. If successful, the gel could be used as an inexpensive, non-hormonal contraceptive. |
| TB Rapid Test (TBRT) Project | | | Carol Holm-Hansen, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway - NO |
| | | | | Carol Holm-Hansen of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health in Norway, along with an international consortium of partners, seeks to develop a simple saliva-based assay test for the diagnosis of Tuberculosis. Serum samples from around the world will be collected to identify and select antigens that characterize the many strains of the bacteria for use in this new diagnostic method. |
| Lactoferrin For Prevention of Sepsis in Young Infants | | | Theresa Ochoa, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru - PE |
| | | | | Theresa Ochoa of Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia in Peru will test whether providing newborns with daily oral supplements of a key milk protein can protect them against sepsis during the critical early days in life. Lactoferrin, the most abundant protein in human and bovine milk, has been shown to have broad-spectrum antimicrobial capabilities, and could provide a new tool to fight neonatal infection and mortality in low-resource settings. |
| Use of Fusobacterium nucleatum as a Vaccine Vector | | | Youngnim Choi, Seoul National University School of Dentistry, Seoul, South Korea |
| | | | | Youngnim Choi of Seoul National University in the Republic of Korea will test whether Fusobacterium nucleatum, a common bacteria often found in human mouths, can be used to deliver antigens to the oral mucosa. This bacteria has the ability to invade epithelial tissues, and Choi hopes to engineer a strain to express a vaccine antigen when given under the tongue to induce both antibody production and a strong cell-mediated immune response. |
| A Novel Test to Measure Mucosal Immunity to Vaccines | | | Giulietta Saletti, International Vaccine Institute, Seoul, South Korea |
| | | | | Giulietta Saletti of the International Vaccine Institute in the Republic of Korea will work to develop an assay test that binds to tissue-specific cell markers to not only measure the concentration of anti-body secreting cells, but also identify which of those cells are targeted to mucosal tissues. If successful, this simple test that requires a small blood sample can be used in low-resource settings to measure mucosal immune responses to vaccines in infants and children. |
Showing grants 21 to 30 of 383 | Rapid Malaria Diagnosis Using Magnetic Nanoparticles | | | Quan Liu, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore - SG |
| | | | | Quan Liu of Nanyang Technological University in Singapore proposes to use magnetic nanoparticles with blood samples to attract and amplify hemozoin, a byproduct of malaria parasites found in infected red blood cells. Liu will use resonance Raman scattering (RSS) to observe and quantify the hemozoin for a simplified, rapid diagnosis of malaria. |
| De-Worming as Intervention Against Secondary Diseases | | | Susanne Spoormaker, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden - SE |
| | | | | Susanne Nylén Spoormaker of the Karolinska Institute in Sweden will test the theory that chronic parasitic worm infections not only increase susceptibility to certain infections, but also impair the ability of the immune system to respond effectively to vaccines. Spoormaker will research whether treatment of worms prior to vaccination will improve the efficacy of vaccination for Tuberculosis and Leishmanasis. |
| Insecticide-Treated Traditional Scarves Among Migrants | | | David Sintasath, Malaria Consortium, Bangkok, Thailand - TH |
| | | | | David Sintasath of Malaria Consortium in Thailand proposes to treat the traditional scarves worn by migrant workers along the Thai-Cambodia border with insecticides to reduce the overall malaria disease burden. Sintasath will then monitor subsequent infection rates reported by area health facilities, and survey participants to learn more about their knowledge, attitude and use of the treated scarves. |
| A Novel Way Of Controlling Malaria Transmitting Mosquitoes | | | Jasper Ogwal-Okeng, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda - UG |
| | | | | Jasper Ogwal-Okeng of Makerere University in Uganda will test whether the insect-eating plants can reduce the population of mosquitoes and their larvae. Ogwal-Okeng will study optimal numbers and placement of such plants and record subsequent impact on mosquito and larvae populations to further refine this vector control method. |
| Portable Fluorescence Microscopy | | | Keith Dunning, Millennium Health Microscope Foundation, Bedford, United Kingdom - GB |
| | | | | Keith Dunning of the Millennium Health Microscope Foundation in the United Kingdom will develop a fluorescent variation of a new hand-held, low-cost microscope. Specimens such as Malaria parasites or Tuberculosis bacterium will become fluorescent at specific wavelengths thus easy to detect at low magnifications using this new palm-sized microscope. |
| An Optical “Seek-And-Destroy” System To Vaccinate Against Leishmania Infection | | | Owain Millington, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom - GB |
| | | | | Owain Millington and Gail McConnell of University of Strathclyde in the United Kingdom seek to adapt existing imaging systems to provide non-invasive in vivo imaging of Leishmania parasites present in macrophages and dendritic cells, and then use a targeted laser to destroy them. They will also test the hypothesis that targeting these cells for destruction will stimulate protective immunity against future Leishmania parasite infections. |
| Novel and Rapid Method for E. coli Detection and Typing | | | Joseph Brown, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, United States - US |
| | | | | Joseph Brown of the University of Alabama seeks to develop a low-cost, rapid method to detect pathogenic microbes present in drinking water. Using a filtration system to concentrate bacteria, a tester would add a engineered particles covered in antibodies to detect the presence of pathogens through visual agglutination. The proposed method would take less than 15 minutes to yield a visual result. |
| Malaria Stopped by a Human Protein Therapeutic | | | Robert Broyles, The Sickle Cell Cure Foundation, Inc, Oklahoma City, OK, United States - US |
| | | | | Robert H. Broyles of The Sickle Cell Cure Foundation, Inc. in the U.S. will build on the recent discovery that elevated fetal hemoglobin (HbF), which alleviates sickle cell disease, can also confer malaria resistance. Broyles will test the ability of a stable human protein to reactivate a silent gene that encodes for HbF, makings red blood cells inhospitable to malaria parasites. If successful, the idea is to target the therapy in the host to reduce malaria infections. |
| Towards Treatment of Pediatric Tuberculosis with IFN-γ | | | Jean-Laurent Casanova, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, United States - US |
| | | | | Jean-Laurent Casanova of The Rockefeller University in the U.S. seeks to identify single gene mutations that are critical to immunity against bacterial infections. By characterizing these mutations, Casanova could provide insight into a genetic basis for the susceptibility of some children to Tuberculosis, that could inform a recombinant IFN-y drug therapy. |
| Fine-Tuning Mucosal Barrier Function for Vaccine Delivery | | | Vincenzo Casolaro, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States - US |
| | | | | Vincenzo Casolaro of the University of Maryland School of Medicine in the United States will test the ability of a novel synthetic peptide, AT1002, to induce the pathways within the mucosa to increase the delivery of antigens. If successful, this peptide could be used as an adjuvant to increase vaccine effectiveness and lower the costs of delivering vaccines. |
Showing grants 31 to 40 of 383 | Optomagnetic Finger Scanner for Malaria | | | Eugene Chan, DNA Medicine Institute, Cambridge, MA, United States - US |
| | | | | Eugene Chan of the DNA Medicine Institute in the U.S. proposes to develop a battery-powered non-invasive finger scanner to detect and measure hemozoin, a byproduct formed by malaria parasites, through the finger’s capillaries. If successful, mass manufacturing of the scanner should be possible due to basic components. |
| Detecting Pathogenic Microbes by a “Microbial Litmus Strip” | | | Liaohai Chen, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, United States - US |
| | | | | Liaohai Chen of Rush University Medical Center in the U.S. will develop nanoparticles which react to the presence of pathogenic microbes by releasing encapsulated substances that quickly amplify the binding signals. These nanoparticles can be placed on the tip of a litmus strip as a colorimetric assay to indicate the presence and concentration of pathogens. |
| A Low-Cost, Rapid, and Sensitive Malaria Diagnostic Tool | | | Sang-Yeon Cho, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, United States - US |
| | | | | Sang-Yeon Cho and Immo Hansen of New Mexico State University in the U.S. seeks to develop a malaria test that measures antibody-antigen reactions through a nanohole to indicate the presence of malaria parasites. |
| Scent of Disease: Diagnostic for Malaria Infection in Humans | | | Consuelo De Moraes, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States - US |
| | | | | Consuelo De Moraes, Mark Mescher and Andrew Read of Pennsylvania State University in the U.S. will test the theory that malaria infection induces characteristic odor cues, even in asymptomatic individuals. By identifying these chemical cues with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry, De Moraes will determine if there are biomarkers for diagnosis of infection. |
| RNA Restriction Enzymes to Detect Viral/Bacterial Infections | | | Jennifer Doudna, University of California, Berkeley, CA, United States - US |
| | | | | Jennifer Doudna of the University of California, Berkeley in the U.S. test the ability of newly discovered RNA restriction enzymes to bind to specific RNA sequences inherent in a wide range of pathogens. If successful, this test could potentially be embedded on wickable paper to test human urine samples and produce a colormetric readout diagnostic like a pregnancy test. |
| Compact Disc Diagnostics for Early Disease Detection | | | Robert Dunn, University of Kansas Center for Research, Inc, Lawrence, KS, United States - US |
| | | | | Robert Dunn and colleagues at the University of Kansas in the U.S. will develop a diagnostic tool for the early detection of disease that employs writable compact discs that can be read in conventional computer disc drives. Microfluidic structures and immobilized antibodies will be fabricated onto small sections of a compact disc, along with enzymes that produce a reflective “silvering” surface upon recognition of target biomarkers. These changes in reflection can be read by any conventional CD drive, allowing for diagnosis using laptops in low resource settings. |
| Targeting Bacterial Genes for Treating Filariasis | | | Julie Dunning Hotopp, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, United States - US |
| | | | | Julie Dunning Hotopp of University of Maryland in the U.S. seeks to identify genes that have been laterally transferred into filarial nematode worm genomes from Wolbachia. Identifying these genes, could provide drug targets to cure neglected tropical diseases such as lymphatic filariasis and river blindness. |
| Microchips to Assess Multifunctionality of Single T Cells | | | Rong Fan, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States - US |
| | | | | Rong Fan of Yale University in the U.S. seeks to develop a microchip to assess the functioning of single T cells. If successful, this technology could be used to evaluate HIV-specific T cell response in future HIV vaccine trials. |
| Non-Invasive Phage Particle Based Sensors for Active TB | | | John Fisk, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States - US |
| | | | | John Fisk of Colorado State University in the U.S. will develop a phage particle that can detect a protein found in urine of active Tuberculosis patients. The two-sided phage particle will detect the presence of the TB protein and also trigger a signal that can be easily detectable. |
| Readerless Point of Care Diagnostics for Viral Load | | | Roozbeh Ghaffari, Diagnostics For All, Cambridge, MA, United States - US |
| | | | | Roozbeh Ghaffari, Patrick Beattie, Jason Rolland and Jeff Carbeck of Diagnostics For All & MC10 Inc. will develop disposable paper-based diagnostics devices embedded with optoelectronics, allowing quantitative colorimetric analysis for HIV viral load monitoring. This platform addresses practical limitations of current image capture methodologies and eliminates the need for external readers. |
Showing grants 41 to 50 of 383 | Plasmablast-Based Assays for Mucosal Antibody Response | | | Harry Greenberg, Palo Alto Institute for Research & Education, Inc, Palo Alto, CA, United States - US |
| | | | | Harry Greenberg of Stanford University School of Medicine and the VA Palo Alto Health Care System in the U.S. will develop a new assay that evaluates the function and phenotype of plasmablasts in peripheral blood after infection or vaccination. By determining how many of these cells have mucosal-homing receptors, Greenberg believes this new test could provide an accurate measurement of mucosal immune response. |
| Low-Cost, Rapid, Multiplexed Detection of TB | | | Vineet Gupta, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States - US |
| | | | | Vineet Gupta of the University of Miami in the U.S. will develop a computational model to identify new DNA sequences in the Tuberculosis bacterium that can be used as biomarkers, and then employ zinc-finger tags to detect the identified DNA sequence in a diagnostic test. |
| Stable Protein Capture Agents with Antibody-like Properties | | | James Heath, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States - US |
| | | | | James Heath of the California Institute of Technology in the U.S. will build stable, low-cost protein capture agents to target proteins. If successful, these agents could replace expensive and unstable monoclonal antibodies that are currently needed for diagnostic tests. |
| Blocking the P. falciparum Transporter PfCRT | | | Christine Hrycyna, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States - US |
| | | | | Christine Hrycyna and Jean Chmielewski of Purdue University in the U.S. will develop novel dimeric drugs designed to block a key protein in the malaria parasite that limits the accumulation of anti-malarials in the parasite’s digestive system. By inhibiting this protein, this new therapy could eliminate drug resistance in malaria parasites. |
| Nonlinear Approaches to Rational Control Of HIV-1 Infection | | | Sheng-He Huang, Children’s Hospital, Los Angeles, CA, United States - US |
| | | | | Sheng He Huang of Children’s Hospital, Los Angeles in the U.S. will use a bioinformatics approach to study how microbial infections, including HIV, use dynamic processes of symbiosis and pathogenesis to thrive in host cells. |
| Symbiont-Mediated Control of River Blindness | | | John Jaenike, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States - US |
| | | | | John Jaenike of the University of Rochester in the U.S. will test the hypothesis that infecting blackflies with the bacteria Spiroplasma could impair the ability to transmit the parasite responsible for River Blindness,and also increase fertility of female flies that can pass along this beneficial bacteria to its offspring. |
| Safe, Cost-effective, and Functional Strategy for Immune Intervention | | | Sunil Joshi, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Edmond, OK, United States - US |
| | | | | Sunil Joshi of the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in the U.S. will study the efficacy of delivering a non-invasive low-voltage electric wave pulse in the vicinity of lymphoid tissues to stimulate the activation and maturation of dendritic cells. If successful, this would be a method of boost long-term immunity. |
| Identification of a Viral Pathogen in Nematodes | | | Cynthia Kenyon, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States - US |
| | | | | Cynthia Kenyon of the University of California, San Francisco in the U.S. seeks to identify a natural viral pathogen that can be used to kill nematodes that cause a wide variety of diseases in humans, most of which disproportionately affect the developing world. |
| Enhancing Innate Vaginal Defenses to Reduce the Risk of HIV | | | Ann Kurth, New York University College of Nursing, New York, NY, United States - US |
| | | | | Ann Kurth of New York University in the U.S. will test the hypothesis that eliminating intra-vaginal practices such as douching will allow the return of healthy vaginal flora conditions which includes ideal pH and an intact vaginal mucosa. By restoring and maintaining this healthy environment, Kurth proposes that incidences of pelvic inflammatory disease and HIV infection can be reduced. |
| G-Protein Coupled Receptors to Detection Infectious Agents | | | Ethan Lerner, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States - US |
| | | | | Ethan Lerner of Massachusetts General Hospital in the U.S. will attempt to reverse engineer in vitro G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), which usually are used by the human body to sense light, odors, tastes and hormones, to detect selected parasite biomarkers. If successful, these engineered receptors could be used to develop a diagnostic sensor for infectious agents. |
Showing grants 51 to 60 of 383 | Leveraging Core Groups to Eliminate Infectious Trachoma | | | Thomas Lietman, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States - US |
| | | | | Thomas Lietman of the University of California, San Francisco in the U.S. will use mathematical models and cross-sectional survey data to determine the minimum number of people in a community who need to be treated for trachoma in order to halt transmission of the disease. Determining this core group can eliminate the need for mass antibiotic distribution, which results drug resistance in communities severely affected by this disease that is the leading cause of blindness. |
| Defeating Insect-Borne Diseases Using Atomic-Level Structure | | | Filippo Mancia, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States - US |
| | | | | Filippo Mancia of Columbia University in the U.S. will perform crystallization experiments on a key olfactory receptor used by mosquitoes to detect humans. The aim of these studies is to determine at an atomic level the common regions on the olfactory receptor in order to develop drug therapies to block these receptors. |
| Transgenic Cow Milk Containing Human Antimicrobial Protein | | | Hironori Matsushima, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, United States - US |
| | | | | Hironori Matsushima of the University of Toledo in the U.S. will test the hypothesis that adding an antimicrobial peptide to powdered milk products can confer protection against enteric diseases. Research will focus on testing the peptide for its ability to kill pathogens in stomach conditions, and on its ability to maintain integrity through the milk pasteurization and drying processes. |
| Prevention of Infection By Bovine Milk Oligosaccharides | | | David Mills, University of California, Davis, CA, United States - US |
| | | | | David Mills of the University of California, Davis in the U.S. will test whether oligosaccharides found in cow’s milk can be used to enrich nutritional strategies of children who have been weaned. While human milk contains oligosaccharides that have been shown protect breast-feeding infants, the older children could benefit from enrichment of intestinal microbiota to prevent intestinal diseases.
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| Discovery of Chemosensory Molecules as Novel Contraceptives | | | John Ngai, University of California, Berkeley, CA, United States - US |
| | | | | John Ngai and Scott Laughlin of the University of California, Berkeley in the U.S. seek to identify chemical compounds in the female reproductive system that guide sperm cells to the egg. By characterizing these “odorants,” synthetic versions can be produced and administered to disrupt this navigation system thus inhibiting fertilization. |
| Cost-Effective Testing of Blood Samples Using Cellphones | | | Aydogan Ozcan, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States - US |
| | | | | Aydogan Ozcan of the University of California, Los Angeles in the U.S. will test the feasibility of a lens-free cell phone microscope for rapid, automated and accurate diagnosis of malaria in field settings. This on-chip cell phone microscope is based on digital holography and does not require any lenses, lasers or other bulky components making it extremely cost-effective and compact. |
| Versatile Pathogen Detection Via Color Change In Body Fluids | | | Gilbert Pacey, Miami University, Oxford, OH, United States - US |
| | | | | Gilbert Pacey of Miami University in the U.S. will develop a novel diagnostic platform to capture biomarkers in nanoholes. The goal is to produce a simple diagnostic device that reads non-invasive samples and requires no reagents or additional equipment. |
| Polymersome-based Novel Spermicide/Therapeutic Delivery | | | Gautam Pangu, Vindico NanoBioTechnology Inc, Lexington, KY, United States - US |
| | | | | Gautam Pangu of Vindico NanoBioTechnology Inc. in the U.S. seeks to develop a vaginal gel that uses nano-sacs called polymersomes, which can control the delivery of spermicides as a contraceptive and other sexually transmitted agents. Peter Ghoroghchian will direct project development and will guide the transition to eventual clinical testing. |
| Triggered Release Microcapsules for Barrier Contraception | | | William Phillips, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States - US |
| | | | | William Phillips, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio will test the feasibility of developing a vaginal tablet containing adhesive microcapsules that would adhere to the vaginal wall and release spermicidal agents upon contact with semen as a method for contraception. |
| A Single-Step Device for Monitoring Mucosal Iga Titers | | | Kevin Plaxco, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, United States - US |
| | | | | Kevin Plaxco of the University of California, Santa Barbara, United States seeks to develop a diagnostics platform based upon measuring the electric current produced by the binding of antibodies to DNA molecules. If successful, this method will provide a rapid, single-step reagent free measurement of immune antibodies which could significantly augment disease detection and vaccine validation efforts. |
Showing grants 61 to 70 of 383 | An “Evolution-Proof” Bio-Pesticide to Control Malaria | | | Jason Rasgon, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States - US |
| | | | | Jason Rasgon of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in the U.S. will engineer a virus to express a scorpion toxin that kills mosquitoes. After infecting mosquito larvae, the virus will express the killer gene when the insect becomes old enough to reproduce, but not old enough to transmit the malaria parasite. By allowing the mosquito to reproduce, the virus not only will be transmitted vertically to the next generation, but will also significantly slow the evolution of resistance to the gene. |
| Nonspecific Induction of Intestinal Immunity by Rice Bra | | | Elizabeth Ryan, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States - US |
| | | | | Elizabeth Ryan of Colorado State University will screen a diverse, global set of rice varieties to identify bioactive components in the bran that augment mucosal immunity against enteric bacterial pathogens. |
| Mass-Producible Microscopes for Low-Cost Diagnosis of TB | | | Mark Schnitzer, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States - US |
| | | | | Mark Schnitzer of Stanford University in the U.S. aims to develop miniature microscopes for reliable, low-cost point-of-care diagnosis of tuberculosis. These microscopes will be stand alone, digital diagnostic devices small enough to be carried in a health care provider’s pocket or purse and will also be producible in large numbers. |
| Instrument-Free Detection of DNA Disease Markers | | | Vyas Sharma, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States - US |
| | | | | Vyas Sharma and David Lawrence of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill in the U.S. will develop a diagnostic platform based on seed germination by integrating DNA amplification with the expression of reporter proteins in plant seeds to aid in the detection of infectious diseases. |
| Unleashing Protein Disaggregases to Prevent HIV Infection | | | James Shorter, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States - US |
| | | | | James Shorter of The University of Pennsylvania in the U.S. will engineer enzymes that disassemble protein fibrils found in semen, which are known to allow for the transmission of HIV infection. The ability to reverse fibril formation could block sexual transmission of HIV and provide a new weapon against the global HIV/AIDS pandemic. |
| Circumcision tool For Traditional Ceremonies In Africa | | | Kathleen Sienko, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States - US |
| | | | | Kathleen Sienko of the University of Michigan in the U.S. has developed a prototype circumcision tool for use in traditional ceremonies in Africa, and seeks to demonstrate the functionality, cultural suitability, and potential for low-cost mass production of the device. Such a tool could increase the circumcision rates leading to lower rates of HIV transmission in the region. |
| Long Lasting Male Contraceptive Pill Development | | | Michael Skinner, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States - US |
| | | | | Michael Skinner of Washington State University in the U.S. will optimize and test a compound that has been shown to impair the functioning of the Sertoli cell, which enables the production and maturation of sperm. Understanding this compound could lead to the development of a reversible, long-lasting male contraceptive pill. |
| Exhaled Diagnosis of MTb | | | Simon Spivack, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States - US |
| | | | | Simon Spivack, Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the U.S. will test the theory that DNA of the Tuberculosis bacterium can be detected in exhaled breath. The team will capture exhaled breath condensate samples via a non-invasive device and use nucleic acid amplification to detect the presence of mycobacteria. |
| Complement-Based Antibiotic Microbeads | | | Todd Sulcheck, Georgia Tech, Atlanta, GA, United States - US |
| | | | | Todd Sulchek of Georgia Tech and David White of the Centers for Disease Control in the U.S. will develop and test the ability of a bi-functional microbead to stimulate the innate immune response. On one hemisphere, the microbead will display targeting antibodies that will bind to pathogens, and on the other hemisphere the microbead will feature Fc fragments that activate the complement system and recruit immune cells to destroy the captured pathogen. |
| Noroviral Replicon:VLP for Gut Mucosal Immunity | | | Alec Sutherland, Arizona State University, Gilbert, AZ, United States - US |
| | | | | Alec Sutherland of Arizona State University in the United States will develop and test a vaccine delivery system that uses Norovirus virus-like particles (VLPs) to deliver desired antigens directly to the gut mucosa. The self-replicating RNA in the VLP will not only encode those antigens, it will also act as an adjuvant by activating several signaling pathways for an enhanced and sustained immune response. |
Showing grants 71 to 80 of 383 | Ultrasound as a Long-Term, Reversible Male Contraceptive | | | James Tsuruta, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States - US |
| | | | | James Tsuruta and Paul Dayton of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill will study the ability of therapeutic ultrasound to deplete testicular sperm counts. Characterizing the most beneficial timing and dosage could lead to the development of a low-cost, non-hormonal and reversible method of contraception for men. |
| Hand-Held Proteomic NanoLab for Infectious Diseases | | | Shan Wang, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States - US |
| | | | | Shan Wang of Stanford University in the U.S. will refine a prototype diagnostic platform which uses GMR sensors, commonly used in hard disk drives, to detect proteins labeled with magnetic nanoparticles. By employing GMR sensors on disposable “NanoLab” sticks, Wang and his team hope to produce an easy to use, ultraportable diagnostic device for rapid point-of-care HIV screening in the developing world. |
| Vitamin A-Secreting Probiotics to Activate Mucosal Immunity | | | Douglas Watson, SRI International, Harrisonburg, VA, United States - US |
| | | | | Douglas Watson and colleagues of SRI International will engineer probiotic bacteria that produce Vitamin A to test the hypothesis that these bacteria will stimulate healthy immunity in the GI tract and reduce the impact of diarrheal diseases. |
| Separation of Malaria-Infected Erythrocytes From Whole Blood | | | George Whitesides, Harvard College, Cambridge, MA, United States - US |
| | | | | George Whitesides of Harvard College in the U.S. will develop a novel low-cost device that can detect the presence of malaria-infected red blood cells in a drop of blood using an egg beater as a centrifuge. The blood drop is added to a short polyethylene tube filled with three polymer solutions, each of which have different densities and do not mix. The tube is connected to an egg beater and rotated for five minutes, allowing the blood to separate into layers of healthy erythrocytes, infected erythrocytes and white blood cells, detectable in the spaces between the polymer layers. |
| Contraception Based on Inhibition of the Sperm Receptor | | | Erick Wolf, Innolytics, LLC, Rancho Santa Fe, CA, United States - US |
| | | | | Erick Wolf of Innolytics, LLC in the U.S. will test a modified version of a drug currently approved as an anti-protozoal and contraceptive for avians for its ability to alter sperm receptor proteins in mammals. If successful, this drug might be used as an oral, non-hormonal and reversible contraceptive. |
| Sentinel Commensals for in situ Temporal Protection against Bacterial Diarrheas | | | Jun Zhu, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States - US |
| | | | | Jun Zhu and Mark Goulian of the University of Pennsylvania in the U.S. propose to use phage display technology to engineer a commensal “sentinel” bacteria that be introduced into the gut flora. Bacterial toxins would be detected by the sentinel commensal, which would bind to the toxin and express enzymes to destroy it. |
| Inducing Mucosal Immunity Using Retinoids & Oral Vaccines | | | Paul Kelly, Barts & The London School of Medicine, Lusaka, Zambia - ZM |
| | | | | Paul Kelly of Barts & The London School of Medicine and a senior lecturer at the University of Zambia School of Medicine will test the theory that a measured dose of vitamin A (retinoic acid) given with an oral vaccine will enhance immunoglobulin secretions in the gut, thus boosting the mucosal immune response. If successful, vitamin A could be used as an effective adjuvant for oral vaccines that target diarrhea, a leading cause of death among children worldwide. |
| Novel EDL Based Molecular Analytical Tools | | | Guigen Zhang, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, United States - US |
| | | | | Guigen Zhang of Clemson University in the US will exploit the capacitive effect of the electrical double layer as an analytical principle to develop low-cost diagnostic tools. This work will lead to highly sensitive and specific and direct-molecule-interfacing biosensors that are inexpensive to build, simple to use, and rugged to deploy. |
| Diagnosis of Pneumonia Using Sound Recordings | | | Udantha Abeyratne, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia - AU |
| | | | | Udantha Abeyratne of the University of Queensland in Australia proposes using low-cost devices such as mobile phones and mp3 players equipped with microphones to record cough and sleeping sounds that do not require direct contact with the patient. Recording will be analyzed using new algorithms in human speech analysis to identify sounds that characterize the presence of pneumonia. |
| Development of a Genetically-Attenuated Live Malaria Vaccine | | | Krystal Evans, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Australia - AU |
| | | | | Krystal Evans of The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in Australia will knock out several proteins that support the expression of the major virulence factor for the malaria parasite. Their aim is create a genetically-attenuated live malaria vaccine that elicits a strong immune response against diverse strains of the parasite. |
Showing grants 81 to 90 of 383 | New Screening Technologies for Drug Discovery of Latent Malaria Infections | | | Ronald Quinn, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia - AU |
| | | | | Ronald Quinn of Griffith University in Australia will attempt to discover chemical fragments drawn from a variety of natural sources that bind to proteins expressed by the malaria parasite in its latent stage. By identifying compounds that target proteins involved in key metabolic and energy pathways of latency, the team may uncover important new drug therapies. |
| A Novel Virulence-Associated Malaria Drug Target | | | Paul Gilson, Macfarlane Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia - AU |
| | | | | Paul Gilson of Macfarlane Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health in Australia will study the function of a newly discovered malaria parasite mechanism that exports proteins into host red blood cells in an effort to develop compounds that block this transfer and inhibit parasite growth. |
| Vaccine for HIV Using a Novel Mucosal Vector and Adjuvant | | | Stephen Kent, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia - AU |
| | | | | Stephen Kent and John Stambas of the University of Melbourne in Australia will develop and test an attenuated influenza virus vector with an adjuvant that stimulates natural killer cells. The goal of this approach is to induce robust immunity at mucosal surfaces to HIV, which is important in both prevention and control of infection. |
| Malaria Detection Using Earth’s Magnetic Field | | | Viktor Vegh, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia - AU |
| | | | | Viktor Vegh of The University of Queensland in Australia will test the efficacy of using low-cost nuclear magnetic resonance technologies that take advantage of earth’s magnetic field to detect malaria parasites. The team will examine blood samples to detect hemozoin, a waste product of malarial parasites, to determine the presence of malaria infection |
| Malaria Diagnosis Using Iron and Plasma | | | Jackie Obey, University of Eastern Africa, Eldoret, Kenya - KE |
| | | | | Jackie Obey of the University of Eastern Africa, Baraton in Kenya will test the efficacy of a diagnostic test for malaria in which small amounts of blood are mixed with an iron solution to create vibrant colors that indicate the amount of a protein released by the malaria parasite. |
| Fermentation Based Mosquito Repelling Device | | | Peter Yiga, AdhocWorks Foundation, Johannesburg, South Africa - ZA |
| | | | | Peter Lubega Yiga of AdhocWorks Foundation in South Africa will test the efficacy of small household containers in which a non-toxic formulation is mixed with water, releasing carbon dioxide and alcohol vapors as a way to repel mosquitos. The investigators will test the device in independent field trials to optimize its usefulness as an alternative to insecticides. |
| Maternal Immunization to Protect Infants Against Malaria | | | Margaret Njoroge, Med Biotech Laboratories, Kampala, Uganda - UG |
| | | | | Margaret Njoroge and Thomas Egwang of Med Biotech Laboratories in Uganda will develop and test an intranasal vaccine to be administered to young women before pregnancy, and again after childbirth, to confer anti-malarial immunity in their babies. |
| Pre-Season Elimination of Malaria Infections | | | Sungano Mharakurwa, Malaria Institute at Macha, Choma, Zambia - ZM |
| | | | | Sungano Mharakurwa of the Malaria Institute in Zambia proposes to take advantage of the “off-season” in regions affected by malaria. The team will identify asymptomatic carriers of the malaria parasite using a simple, non-invasive diagnostic tool using saliva samples which can be easily used by village community workers. Those individuals will be treated to eliminate the parasite before it can be transmitted during the rainy season, when malaria cases increase. |
| Dendritic Cell Receptor-Targeted Malaria Vaccines | | | Rajan George, Paladin Biosciences, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada - CA |
| | | | | Rajan George of Paladin Biosciences, a division of Paladin Labs Inc. in Canada will produce a vaccine with multiple malaria antigens to target dendritic cell receptors and without the need for an adjuvant, in an effort to induce both antibody and cell-mediated immune responses to the malaria parasite at various stages of the infection. |
| Microfluidic Isolation of Red Cells Infected With Malaria | | | Hongshen Ma, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C., Canada - CA |
| | | | | Hongshen Ma of the University of British Columbia in Canada will develop an inexpensive hand-held device consisting of a series of funnels of decreasing size that will separate healthy red-blood cells, which can easily squeeze through openings, from malaria-parasite infected blood cells which become more rigid. A simple integrated optical sensor would then count stained cells in these various stages to determine the state of infection and inform treatment options. |
Showing grants 91 to 100 of 383 | Improving the Immunogenicity of HIV Envelope Glycoproteins | | | Michel Gilbert, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada - CA |
| | | | | Michel Gilbert of the National Research Council Canada will use the single-celled microorganism T. acidophilum to produce HIV proteins with unique sugar residues found only in archaebacteria such as T. acidophilum. By modifying these glycan structures to ones not recognized by humans, Gilbert hopes to elicit a stronger immune response against the virus. |
| K+ Channel Blockers for Malaria Control | | | Lourival Possani, Institute of Biotechnology - National University of Mexico, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico - MX |
| | | | | Lourival Possani of the Institute of Biotechnology at the National University of Mexico will investigate the antimalarial effects of scorpine, a newly identified peptide found in the venom of scorpions. The team will test scorpine’s efficacy in blocking K+ channels used by malaria parasites to replicate in mosquitoes. Creating a new generation of malaria-resistant mosquitoes can aid in the eradication of the disease in humans. |
| Malaria Transmission Blocking Vaccines (TBV) Boosted By Natural Exposure | | | Kailash Patra, University of California, San Diego, CA, United States - US |
| | | | | Kailash Patra of the University of California, San Diego in the U.S. will use proteomics to examine gametocyte, zygote, or ookinete surface proteins of the malaria parasite to test their reactivity to human serum collected from malaria endemic regions, and to identify new antigen candidates for malaria vaccines. |
| Humanized Mouse Model for Malaria Research | | | Moriya Tsuji, Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, New York, NY, United States - US |
| | | | | Moriya Tsuji of the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center in the U.S. will test whether the human malaria parasite can infect mice engineered with humanized livers and red blood cells by producing human erythropoietin. The goal of this project is part of a larger effort to create a mouse model capable of supporting the full malaria life cycle for use in preclinical testing of new anti-malarial therapies and vaccines. |
| Drugs That Inhibit Malaria Infection and Block Transmission | | | Victor Nussenzweig, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States - US |
| | | | | Victor Nussenzweig of the New York University School of Medicine in the U.S. seeks to develop a small molecule drugs to inhibit key kinase enzymes in the malaria parasite that are thought to control latency in parasite infections. Such fundamental knowledge may enable new tools to clear the latent forms of P. vivax parasites or block transmission of the disease by targeting sporozoites. |
| “Coffee Ring Stain” Diagnostics for Malaria | | | David Wright, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States - US |
| | | | | David Wright of Vanderbilt University in the U.S. will develop a new low-cost diagnostic tool in which a droplet of malaria-infected blood deposited on a glass slide will, based on fluid dynamics, leave a ring-like pattern as the blood evaporates. The slide will be prepared with a solution that will interact with a particular protein of the malaria parasite to visualize this "coffee ring stain," allowing for easy interpretation and ready diagnosis. |
| Transmission-Blocking Vaccine Based on Malaria Gamete Surface Protein | | | Nirbhay Kumar, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States - US |
| | | | | Nirbhay Kumar of Johns Hopkins University in the U.S. will use a technique called codon harmonization to fully and correctly express a complex malaria gamete surface protein. The sexual stages of malaria parasites have been shown to be particularly vulnerable to antibody targeting. This approach may be able to block the transmission of malaria in insect vectors. |
| Using Exercise to Improve Pneumococcal Vaccine Efficiency | | | Kate Edwards, University of California, La Jolla, CA, United States - US |
| | | | | Kate Edwards of University of California, San Diego in the U.S. will test the theory that brief bouts of exercise consisting of cycling and weight lifting will increase antibody and cell-mediated responses to a pneumococcal vaccination administered immediately after the physical activity. |
| Ghost HIV Virus to Stimulate the Immune System | | | Paul Kim, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States - US |
| | | | | Paul Kim of Johns Hopkins University in the U.S. will modify HIV by removing the viral genome and replacing the outer domain of the gp120 protein, used by the virus to invade host immune cells, with receptors normally used by gp120 to bind to host cells. When this modified ghost virus encounters native HIV during an infection, hidden epitopes are exposed to the host immune system, stimulating antibodies to clear the infection. |
| Identifying Drugs to Block Transmission | | | Matthias Marti, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States - US |
| | | | | Matthias Marti of the Harvard School of Public Health in the U.S. will utilize a newly developed transgenic malaria parasite that expresses GFP indicating when the parasites are ready to be transmitted to mosquitoes. He will use this technology to screen for compounds that can prevent the development of these gametocytes. |
Showing grants 101 to 110 of 383 | An Endothelial Reservoir for Malaria? | | | Michael Leibowitz, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, United States - US |
| | | | | Michael Leibowitz of the UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in the U.S. will investigate whether malaria parasites bind to, invade and replicate in the endothelial cells that line the blood vessels to test the theory that endothelial cells play an important role in the development of malaria infection and may serve as undiscovered reservoirs for parasite latency. |
| Intestinal Alkaline Phosphatase to Treat and Prevent Diarrhea | | | Madhu Malo, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States - US |
| | | | | Madhu Malo of Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School in the U.S. will investigate whether maintaining the normal intestinal commensal bacteria using oral supplementation of intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP), a small intestinal brush-border enzyme, will prevent or cure infection by pathogenic bacteria. A successful project would generate a universal prophylactic and therapeutic strategy against diarrheal diseases. |
| Microalgal Mediated Eradication of Malarial Mosquito Larvae | | | Richard Sayre, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, MO, United States - US |
| | | | | Richard Sayre of Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in the U.S. will develop and test a transgenic algae that delivers interference RNA (RNAi) elements to mosquito larvae when they feed on it. These RNAi will silence essential genes used by the larvae to develop, thus killing mosquitoes before they can transmit malaria. |
| Vaccines Against Diarrhea Causing Gram Negative Bacteria | | | Sangeeta Joshi, University of Kansas, Lawrence, United States - US |
| | | | | Sangeeta Joshi of the Middaugh laboratory at the University of Kansas in the U.S. will develop a novel polymer vaccine composed of assembled versions of “needle” and “tip” surface proteins used by Shigella and Salmonella pathogens to trigger bacterial invasion in human intestinal cells, and test it for its ability to induce antibody response. |
| Highly Sensitive TB Detection using a Paper Cup | | | Scott Phillips, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States - US |
| | | | | Scott Phillips, of Pennsylvania State University in the U.S. proposes to develop a polymer reagent to be deposited at the bottom of a small paper cup used to collect a sputum sample, where it will detect proteins secreted by tuberculosis and turn indicate TB-positive samples by changing color. |
| Targeted Oral Vaccines to Induce Cellular & Mucosal Immunity | | | Jennifer Maynard, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States - US |
| | | | | Jennifer Maynard and Nicholas Peppas of the University of Texas at Austin in the U.S. seeks to engineer proteins to be delivered by oral polymeric vaccine that specifically bind to receptors of M cells on the gut mucosa. By targeting these M cells, antigens can be introduced directly to the mucosal system, inducing a targeted, stronger immune response. |
| MALiVA: A Malaria Immunodiagnostic for Saliva-borne Antigens | | | Andrew Fung, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States - US |
| | | | | Andrew Fung, Jack Judy and Theodore Moore at the University of California, Los Angeles in the U.S., along with Michel Bergeron of l’Université Laval in Canada, will work to identify molecular markers of malaria present in saliva in order to develop a chewing gum diagnostic tool called “MALiVA.” During chewing, particles in the gum will react with these malaria proteins, which can be detected and characterized when this device is scanned with a magnet. |
| Infrared Signature of Malaria Infection | | | Wei Lu, The Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States - US |
| | | | | Wei Lu of the University of Michigan in the U.S. will test the theory that red blood cells infected with malaria have significantly different characteristics when subjected to light in ultra-far infrared spectrum. Using these techniques, this project aims to develop a non-invasive tool to scan capillaries near the body surface and diagnose malaria. |
| Genetic Fossils Used As Vaccine Targets for HIV | | | Jonah Sacha, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States - US |
| | | | | Because HIV infection activates endogenous retroviruses (ERV) in human cells, which are naturally dormant, Jonah Sacha of the University of Wisconsin in the U.S. will target T-cells against these ERV antigens. If true, new host-directed vaccines could be developed to eliminate HIV infected cells. |
| Lensless Microscope for Diagnostics | | | Changhuei Yang, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States - US |
| | | | | Changhuei Yang of the California Institute of Technology in the U.S. will evaluate the feasibility of using a "microscope on a chip" along with a hand-held reader to detect and analyze cells and parasites in bodily fluids. If successful; this technology, which does not use traditional lenses, could provide diagnostic capabilities for a wide range of diseases including malaria. |
Showing grants 111 to 120 of 383 | Potentiating Mucosal Vaccines by RANKL Induction of M Cells | | | Ifor Williams, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States - US |
| | | | | Ifor Williams of Emory University School of Medicine in the U.S. will test the theory that a newly characterized cytokine that triggers the development of M cells can be used as an adjuvant to boost immunity in mucosal surfaces and lead to greater uptake of vaccines. |
| Humanized Mouse: Recapitulate P. falciparum/vivax Cycle | | | Joseph Vinetz, University of California, La Jolla, CA, United States - US |
| | | | | Joseph Vinetz of the University of California, San Diego in the U.S. will attempt to create a new mouse model that mimics both human liver and blood cell function. These new mouse models should allow human malaria parasites to complete their full life cycle in the models and provide a new tool for testing anti-malarial strategies, including drugs and vaccines. |
| A Novel Approach of Creating an Attenuated Pneumonia Vaccine | | | Vijay Pancholi, The Ohio State University Research Foundation, Columbus, OH, United States - US |
| | | | | Vijay Pancholi of The Ohio State University Research Foundation in the U.S. will attempt to attenuate the S. pneumonia bacteria by altering export of the GAPDH enzyme, a function thought to be essential to the bacteria’s survival. Preventing export of this key enzyme will decrease bacterial virulence, allowing the attenuated strain to be used for development an affordable live vaccine for pneumococcal pneumonia. |
| Vitamin A to Induce Gut Homing of Immune Cells | | | David Schwartz, Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack, NJ, United States - US |
| | | | | David Schwartz of Hackensack University Medical Center in the U.S. will test an intradermal injection that increases levels of vitamin A and blocks vitamin D3 metabolism. These important mechanisms can “educate” B cells to home to the gut and to make mucosal antibodies against many viruses, including HIV. |
| Engineered H. pylori as a Diarrheal Vaccine Platform | | | Martin Blaser, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States - US |
| | | | | Martin Blaser of the New York University School of Medicine in the U.S. proposes to engineer a harmless modification of H. pylori, a bacteria commonly found in the human stomach, to deliver antigens to protect against intestinal pathogens such as cholera and campylobacter. This modified H. pylori can only survive in the presence of an enzyme supplied in special drinking water, allowing those administering the vaccine to regulate its colonization. |
| Cell Phone Microscopy for Malaria Diagnosis | | | Daniel Fletcher, University of California, Berkeley, CA, United States - US |
| | | | | Daniel Fletcher of the University of California, Berkeley in the U.S. will develop a microscope that attaches to cell phones to capture high-contrast fluorescent images of malaria parasites. Custom software on the phone will automatically count the parasite load, with results and patient information wirelessly transmitted to clinical centers for tracking. |
| Enhancing TB Vaccines with Gene Silencing | | | Jinhee Lee, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worchester, MA, United States - US |
| | | | | Jinhee Lee and Gary Ostroff of the University of Massachusetts Medical School in the U.S. will test the idea of delivering small interfering RNA (siRNAs) via glucan particles in an oral TB vaccine formulation. The team will utilize the siRNAs’ ability to block immunosuppressive signaling and amplify the immune response. |
| Manipulating the Mosquito’s Lifespan to Control Malaria | | | Michael Riehle, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States - US |
| | | | | Michael Riehle of the University of Arizona in the U.S. will manipulate insulin signaling in mosquito tissues to create a new breed of mosquito that has a shorter lifespan, yet has increased fertility. Because only older mosquitoes can transmit the malaria parasite, the team hopes these fertile, short-lived mosquitoes will replace longer-lived malaria carriers. |
| An Immunity-Enhancing Beverage | | | Steven Maranz, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, United States - US |
| | | | | Steven Maranz of Weill Medical College in the U.S. will test the hypothesis that providing children high levels of flavanols, compounds found in chocolate, green tea, cola and shea nuts, deprives malaria parasites of lipids needed to survive, keeping parasite infection at levels low enough to elicit a strong immune response that builds lifelong immunity. |
| HIV Incidence Testing in Hair | | | Christopher Pilcher, UCSF Positive Health Program, San Francisco, CA, United States - US |
| | | | | Christopher Pilcher of the University of California, San Francisco in the U.S. will test the theory that HIV proteins, nucleic acids and antibodies to HIV can be detected in shafts of hair. This possible approach may provide a low-cost tool to determine the timing of HIV infection, which is essential to establish incidence rates in populations. |
Showing grants 121 to 130 of 383 | Reagent-Free, Needle-Free Microscopy for Malaria Diagnosis | | | Rebecca Richards-Kortum, Rice University, Houston, TX, United States - US |
| | | | | Rebecca Richards-Kortum of Rice University in the U.S. will measure light scattered by malaria-infected blood by building a small microscope that can be placed on the skin, without the need to draw blood from patients. This novel, rapid, and painless diagnostic would not require consumable reagents or a trained operator, and would not generate biohazardous waste. |
| A Single Vaccine Against Pneumococcus and Typhoid Fever | | | Yingjie Lu, Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, MA, United States - US |
| | | | | Yingjie Lu and Richard Malley of Children's Hospital Boston in the U.S. will develop a bivalent vaccine by conjugating a fusion of three novel, highly-conserved pneumococcal antigens to the already approved Vi polysaccharide vaccine used for typhus. The team will test its ability to induce strong humoral and cellular immune responses against both pneumococcus and typhoid fever. |
| Nanoparticle Mucosal Vaccine Platform from Eggshell Proteins | | | Allison Ficht, Texas A&M Health Science Center, College Station, TX, United States - US |
| | | | | Allison Ficht of Texas A&M Health Science Center in the U.S. will develop a new TB immunization delivery system based on the protein used by parasitic worms to seal their egg case. This “sticky coating” for nanoparticle vaccines could protect antigens during intranasal administration, affix them to the nasal mucosa and erode in a controlled way to slowly release antigens for enhanced immune response against tuberculosis. |
| New Intravaginal Delivery System to Induce Mucosal Immunity | | | Emmanuel Ho, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States - US |
| | | | | Emmanuel Ho of University of Utah in the U.S. will develop a polyether urethane (PU) intra-vaginal ring designed to slowly release the HIV peptide gp120, as well as the cytokine IL-12 as an adjuvant, directly into the vaginal mucosa to stimulate a sustained mucosal immune response. |
| PlasmoTrack: Spatiotemporal Tracking of Malaria Parasites | | | Bryan Greenhouse, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States - US |
| | | | | Bryan Greenhouse of the University of California, San Francisco, will design a series of microsatellites, short DNA repeats which have variable lengths in different parasites, to track individual parasites in two regions close to malaria elimination. If successful, this approach will provide insight into parasite transmission networks and help to guide future malaria eradication efforts. |
| Highly Sensitive, Low-Cost Malaria Test | | | Juan Santiago, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States - US |
| | | | | Juan Santiago of Stanford University in the U.S. will develop small, disposable diagnostic device that utilizes isotachophoresis, a technique that separates charged particles, to concentrate a key biomarker of malaria parasites. The goal of this technique is to provide test results within three minutes at a sensitivity much greater than current tests, allowing for detection of malaria at much earlier stages of infection and in asymptomatic individuals. |
| Metabolic Engineering of Salmonella and Shigella Vaccines | | | Craig Morita, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States - US |
| | | | | Craig Morita of the University of Iowa in the U.S. will engineer Salmonella and Shigella vaccine vectors to overproduce an essential antigen to stimulate gamma delta T cells, to boost mucosal immune response against these enteric pathogens. |
| Reawakening Retrocyclins to Combat Mucosal STIs in Women | | | Alexander Cole, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, United States - US |
| | | | | Alexander Cole of the University of Central Florida will attempt to restore natural expression of retrocyclins, antiviral peptides whose production in humans has been latent for millions of years. Cole will test inexpensive and widely available antibiotics for their ability to induce production of these retrocyclins, leading to its possible use as a vaginal microbicide. |
| Bacterial Viruses as Tool for Blocking Transmission of Malaria | | | Luiz Ozaki, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States - US |
| | | | | Luiz Ozaki and Gail E. Christie of Virginia Commonwealth University in the U.S. will genetically engineer bacterial viruses to carry peptides that block the development of the malaria parasites, survive in the mosquito gut, and spread through vector populations. If successful, these bacteriophages could be used as “gene dissemination tools” for effective control of the malaria. |
| Electrical Detection of TB Signals in Breath | | | William Royea, Next Dimensions Technology, Inc., Pasadena, CA, United States - US |
| | | | | William Royea of Next Dimensions Technology, Inc., in the United States seeks to develop a point-of-care breath analyzer. The proposed system aims to use an array of chemical films that are sensitive to changes in electrical conduction as a result of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by tuberculosis. |
Showing grants 131 to 140 of 383 | Inexpensive, Dry, Heat-Stable, Vaccine Skin Patch | | | Tycho Speaker, Transderm Inc., Santa Cruz, CA, United States - US |
| | | | | Tycho Speaker of Transderm Inc. in the United States, along with Juvaris Biotherapeutics, will test the efficacy of a dry microneedle skin patch loaded with malaria antigens and a novel adjuvant for its ability to stimulate a robust immune response. If successful, this painless, low-cost, no-refrigeration vaccine delivery system could increase vaccine access to at-risk populations. |
| Using Acoustic Analysis of Cough to Diagnosis Pneumonia | | | Suzanne Smith, STAR Analytical Services, Bedford, MA, United States - US |
| | | | | Suzanne Smith of STAR Analytical Services in the United States will study recorded cough samples with acoustic vocalization-analysis technology to identify sound characteristics that indicate specific symptoms of pneumonia with the aim of rapidly identifying the cause and severity of respiratory illness. It is hoped that such acoustic landmarks would help in the differentiation between viral infections and bacterial illnesses, each of which may require different treatments. |
| Synthetic Peptides to Inhibit HIV Entry | | | Chang Yi Wang, United Biomedical, Inc., Hauppauge, NY, United States - US |
| | | | | Chang Yi Wang of United Biomedical, Inc. in the United States will develop and test synthetic peptide immunogens that mimic conserved sites used by HIV to gain entry to host T-cells. Mimicking the correct three-dimensional structure of these important proteins should generate antibody responses that block this initial step of HIV infection and neutralize the virus. |
| Using Common Freshwater Protozoa to Produce Malaria Vaccines | | | William Gordon, Tetragenetics, Inc., Ithaca, NY, United States - US |
| | | | | William Gordon and collaborators at Tetragenetics, Inc. in the United States propose using T. thermophilia, a fresh-water protozoa commonly used in basic research, to produce malaria antigens in a crystalline protein gel. The close evolutionary relationship between T thermophilia and protozoan malaria parasites may allow the antigens to retain their natural conformation. In this way, multiple vaccine components can be readily harvested as a single, low-cost, high-potency vaccine formulation. |
| Novel Method Protecting Infants from HIV in Breast Milk | | | Renjie Chang, Lavax, Palatine, IL, United States - US |
| | | | | Renjie Chang of Lavax, Inc. in the U.S. has developed a natural food substance that reduces HIV viruses in the mother’s milk, and will test it along with scientists at University of Toledo for its ability to block HIV transmission from mothers to infants. |
| Low-Cost Multivalent Pneumococcal Vaccine | | | Kevin Killeen, Matrivax R&D Inc., Boston, MA, United States - US |
| | | | | Kevin Killeen of Matrivax R&D Inc. in the U.S. proposes applying a novel technology which entraps many polysaccharide antigens in a protein matrix. If successful, this prototype platform could increase the breadth of serotypes currently covered by pneumococcal vaccines as well as reduce costs of vaccine production. |
| Malaria Diagnostics on Skin | | | Howard Bernstein, Seventh Sense Biosystems, Cambridge, MA, United States - US |
| | | | | Howard Bernstein of Seventh Sense Biosystems in the U.S. will engineer a skin patch that can detect and measure malaria proteins in interstitial fluid. If successful, an easy-to-use biocompatible device may be able to allow continued monitoring of infection for a few weeks, instead of a single time point. |
| Inducing Autophagy in Dendritic Cells By DNA Delivery | | | Tanapat Palaga, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand - TH |
| | | | | Tanapat Palaga of Chulalongkorn University in Thailand seeks to create a novel DNA vaccine delivery system that targets dendritic cells in GI mucosal tissues. Using chitosan nanoparticles to encapsulate DNA plasmid and protect it from stomach acid, this potential vaccine construct will contain both an antigen and an autophagy-inducing gene to enhance the vaccine’s efficacy. |
| A New Tool for Anti-Malarial Target Gene Validation | | | Philip Shaw, BIOTEC, Pathumthani, Thailand - TH |
| | | | | Philip J. Shaw of Thailand’s National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology will seek to identify potential drug targets and vaccine antigens in the malaria parasite using a novel technology to reduce specific gene expression. By fusing a natural genetic “riboswitch” onto gene targets, the team will attempt to attenuate gene expression and thereby determine gene function. |
| Finding Malaria Relapse Using Liver Function Tests | | | A. Nag, Vivekananda International Health Centre, Kolkata, India - IN |
| | | | | Abani Nag and Amiya Hati of Vivekananda International Health Centre in India will test the hypothesis that ultrasound measurements of the liver and spleen, as well as functional liver enzyme tests, will to help differentiate cases of relapse versus re-infection of malaria, leading to more appropriate treatment and drug therapies. |
Showing grants 141 to 150 of 383 | Electronics Nose to Smell Tuberculosis from Breath VOCs | | | Ranjan Nanda, International Centre for Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology, Delhi, India - IN |
| | | | | Ranjan Nanda, K.V.S. Rao and Virander Chauhan of the International Centre for Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology in India will gather breath samples from tuberculosis patients and use gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to identify and track unique molecules such as volatile organic compounds that can serve as biomarkers to diagnose tuberculosis. The overall goal is to then create a handheld “electronic nose” to diagnose the disease in resource-poor settings. |
| Develop Novel Receptor Blocking Vaccines Against P. falciparum and P. viva | | | Deepak Gaur, International Centre for Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology, Delhi, India - IN |
| | | | | Deepak Gaur, Chetan Chitnis and Virander Chauhan of the International Centre for Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology in India will attempt to develop a blood-stage malaria vaccine that uses a combination of two proteins found among a wide diversity of malaria parasites. Their goal is to stimulate antibodies that would stop parasite infection of red blood cells by blocking multiple pathways of invasion. |
| Sublingual Vaccination for Inducing Broad-Based Mucosal Immunity | | | Cecil Czerkinsky, International Vaccine Institute, Seoul, South Korea |
| | | | | Cecil Czerkinsky of the International Vaccine Institute in South Korea will test the efficacy of administering two approved vaccines sublingually – directly under the tongue. The team will attempt to produce not only antibody responses but also cytotoxic T cell responses in distant mucosal organs such as the lungs and reproductive tract. Sublingual vaccine administration could help improve vaccine delivery, compliance, and enhance immunity against a variety of pathogens. |
| Programming T cell Homing to Induce Gut-Selective Immunity | | | Federica Marelli-Berg, Imperial College London, Division of Medicine, London, United Kingdom - GB |
| | | | | Federica Marelli-Berg of Imperial College London, Division of Medicine in the UK will test the theory that using “homing factors” as vaccine adjuvants will induce the development of memory T cells thereby generating site-specific immunity against pathogens in the gut. |
| Artificial Triggering of Malaria Parasite Relapse | | | Lena Hulden, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland - FI |
| | | | | Lena Hulden of the University of Helsinki in Finland will test the hypothesis that saliva from newly emerging mosquitoes activates dormant P. vivax parasites in the liver. By robust statistical analysis of the timing of P. vivax outbreaks, as well as molecular analysis of mosquito saliva, Hulden hopes to eventually identify the trigger for these relapses in hopes of controlling outbreaks. |
| Light-Activated Pellets for Mosquito Larvae Control | | | Annette Habluetzel, University of Camerino, Camerino (MC), Italy - IT |
| | | | | Annette Habluetzel of the University of Camerino in Italy seeks to develop a micropellet food for mosquito larvae made from non-toxic, organic compounds. These pellets, when ingested by the transparent larvae are activated by sunlight and kill the larvae, leaving other animals unharmed. |
| Induction of HIV Protective Mucosal Antibodies | | | Claudia Pastori, Fondazione S. Raffaele del Monte Tabor, Milan, Italy - IT |
| | | | | Claudia Pastori of Fondazione S. Raffaele del Monte Tabor in Italy seeks to induce mucosal immunity against HIV by using a bacterial adhesive protein to target antigens to specific cells. The goal of this approach is to present conserved epitopes of HIV in their natural form to elicit the production of protective antibodies in the tissues where these antibodies will be effective. |
| Excreting HIV Using Antibodies | | | Edward Dolk, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands - NL |
| | | | | Edward Dolk of Utrecht University in the Netherlands proposes using two-sided antibodies, which bind to HIV and to transport receptors in the epithelium. Binding these receptors will cause excretion of the HIV particles outside of the body, thereby reducing viral load. |
| Preventing Malaria in Both Host and Vector | | | Shahid Khan, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, Netherlands - NL |
| | | | | Shahid Khan of Leiden University Medical Centre in the Netherlands seeks to produce a multi-stage malaria vaccine using transgenic sporozoites. These parasite forms will also present transmission blocking antigens to not only generate protective immunity against early stages of infection, but also generate antibodies to block transmission via mosquitoes. |
| New Whole-Species Pneumococcal Vaccines | | | Jeremy Webb, School of Biological Sciences, Southampton, United Kingdom - GB |
| | | | | Jeremy Webb and collaborators at the School of Biological Sciences in the United Kingdom will search for unique proteins that allow pneumococcal bacteria to form biofilms on mucosal surfaces. The team will use laser capture micro-dissection “laser tweezers” to dissect these bacterial communities with the goal of finding antigens common to all serotypes and could be used as the basis for future vaccines. |
Showing grants 151 to 160 of 383 | Targeting Malaria Hotspots In Rural Poorly Resourced Settings | | | Roly Gosling, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom - GB |
| | | | | Roly Gosling of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in the United Kingdom will conduct a pilot study in Tanzania to test whether malaria cases can be contained by treating the households and immediate neighbors of those diagnosed with malaria. The goal of this research is to understand whether such community approaches can clear asymptomatic carriers and eliminate parasites within these “hotspots.” |
| Targeting of the P. falciparum Immune Evasion Mechanism | | | Matthew Fuchter, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom - GB |
| | | | | Matthew Fuchter and collaborators at Imperial College London in the United Kingdom proposes to test whether a novel chemical produced in some fungus species can control enzymes that control immune escape mechanisms in malaria parasites. If successful, this approach may not only force the parasite to present many surface proteins that are normally absent and stimulate a powerful immune response, but could also directly kill malaria parasites. |
| Eradication of Malaria through the Development of Host Directed Therapy | | | Simon Foote, Menzies Research Institute, Hobart Tasmania, Australia - AU |
| | | | | Simon Foote of the Menzies Research Institute at the University of Tasmania in Australia will use "forward genetic screening" approaches identify mutations that confer resistance after exposure to malaria parasites. The team will use this powerful information to develop drug therapies that target the human host and mimic these protective genetic effects. |
| A Novel Effective Vaccine Against Cholera | | | Michael Lebens, University of Gothenburg Institute for Vaccine Research (GUVAX), Gothenburg, Sweden - SE |
| | | | | Michael Lebens of the University of Gothenburg Institute for Vaccine Research in Sweden proposes to develop a new oral cholera vaccine using a single cholera strain that expresses antigens for both the Inaba and Ogawa serotypes, as well as produces cholera toxin subunits that act as an adjuvant to stimulate mucosal immune activity. |
| Rapid Urine-Based Dipstick Test for Diagnosis of Malaria | | | Uri McKakpo, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana - GH |
| | | | | Uri Selome McKakpo of the University of Ghana will develop and test a rapid dipstick test that utilizes monoclonal antibodies to detect parasite antigens present in urine of infected individuals. Using this technology, the team hopes to create a new diagnostic test for malaria that requires minimal training to use and does not depend on invasive blood samples. |
| Robotic Health Assistant for Rational Management of Fevers among Nomads | | | Oladele Akogun, Common Heritage Foundation, Jimeta-Yola, Nigeria - NG |
| | | | | Oladele Akogun of the Common Heritage Foundation in Nigeria seeks to develop a “fever kit” for use among nomadic populations to help them accurately diagnose and treat fevers in a way that reduces mortality and drug resistance. The device will be equipped with simple diagnostic tools and prerecorded treatment instructions in the native language to help nomadic caregivers distinguish between malaria and other causes of fevers, and will also contain drug treatments appropriate to the diagnosed illness. |
| A Novel Way of Targeting TB using Aptamers and Nanotechnology | | | Boitumelo Semete, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Pretoria, South Africa - ZA |
| | | | | To optimize the effectiveness of current anti-tuberculosis drugs, Boitumelo Semete of the CSIR in South Africa will work with collaborators to develop “sticky nanoparticles” that specifically attach to TB-infected cells. Once taken in by these cells, the nanoparticles will slowly degrade, releasing the anti-TB drugs and killing the bacteria. With this novel drug delivery system, the team aims to improve the bioavailability of the current therapies, with the possibility of shortening the treatment period for TB as well as reduce drug side effects. |
| Development of Indoor Spray to Control Malaria Transmission | | | Walter Focke, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa - ZA |
| | | | | Because DDT is the only insecticide that remains effective for more than a year, Walter Focke of the University of Pretoria in South Africa will investigate how insecticides degrade when applied on an indoor surface. Focke will then study whether combining the insecticide with paint to create a “whitewash” can mitigate this disintegration and enhance stability. |
| Using Outdoor Infrastructure for Malaria Eradication | | | Fredros Okumu, Ifakara Health Institute, Ifakara Town, Tanzania, United Republic of - TZ |
| | | | | Malaria-transmitting mosquitoes spend a greater part of their lives outside human dwellings than inside. Fredros Okumu of Ifakara Health Institute in Tanzania will fabricate outdoor decoy sites to attract and trap breeding, resting and feeding mosquitoes. They will then develop a location model to guide optimal placement of the devices, and then conduct a village trial to test the efficacy of the decoys in reducing malaria transmission. |
| Reducing Risk of ALRI by Improving Indoor Air Pollution | | | Golam Rabbani, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh - BD |
| | | | | Golam Rabbani of International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B) will study the effects that a new model of indoor cooking stove with concealed combustion chambers and ventilation chimney has in reducing indoor air pollution and subsequently, reducing acute lower respiratory infections and TB in children. |
Showing grants 161 to 170 of 383 | Prevention of Visceral Leishmaniasis Disease in Asymptomatic VL Patients | | | Dinesh Mondal, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh - BD |
| | | | | Because malnutrition, micronutrient deficiency and parasitic worm infection are all major risk factors for developing visceral leishmaniasis, Dinesh Mondal of International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B) will study if VL development can be prevented in asymptomatic patients through nutritional supplements of vitamin A, zinc and iron, as well as anti-helminth treatment. |
| Generation of Influenza-Resistant Chicken by Triple Combination Lentiviral Vector-mediated Genetic Modification | | | Chen Yangchao, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China - CN |
| | | | | Chen Yangchao of the Chinese University of Hong Kong proposes developing a lentiviral vector that targets the entry and replication of influenza viruses in domestic chickens. The team plans to test the ability of these modified chickens to be resistant to various influenza viruses in an effort to reduce the frequency of flu epidemics in poultry and, ultimately, in humans. |
| Immune Reinforcing Attenuated Whole-Sporozoite as Vaccine | | | Guang-hong Tan, Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Medicine, Haikou, Hainan, China - CN |
| | | | | Guang-hong Tan of Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Medicine in China seeks to create a next-generation malaria vaccine by deleting a gene responsible for parasite development in the liver adding a new gene which attracts dendritic cells to the infection site. Using this modified sporozoite in a vaccine could produce a limited infection that, at the same time, induces a strong immune response against malaria. |
| Dual-Mode Binding Inhibitors to Suppress P. falciparum DHFRs | | | Bongkoch Tarnchompoo, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Pathumthani, Thailand - TH |
| | | | | Bongkoch Tarnchompoo of the National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology in Thailand will attempt to develop and test a novel drug that binds to the two pathways used by the DHFR enzyme in P. falciparum to mutate. By tethering these active sites, the dual-binding drug will suppress the development of resistance to anti-malarial drugs. |
| A Self-Adjuvanting Vaccine for ST-ETEC | | | Roy Robins-Browne, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia - AU |
| | | | | Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) is the leading cause of diarrhea in the developing world. Roy Robins-Browne, of the University of Melbourne, in Australia will evaluate the effectiveness of a prototype vaccine that combines enterotoxin of E. coli (which lacks immunogenicity by itself) with another epitope to attract helper T cells and a lipid adjuvant to ensure delivery of the antigen directly into the cell. |
| Liposomal Dendiritc-Cell (DC)-Targeted Vaccines for TB | | | Ines Atmosukarto, Lipotek Pty Ltd, Canberra, Australia - AU |
| | | | | Ines Atmosukarto of Lipotek Pty Ltd. in Australia proposes to develop a novel TB vaccine utilizing synthetic “nano-sacs” called liposomes that carry TB antigens and are anchored with a self-adjuvanting protein that binds to and stimulates dendritic cells. |
| Development of a Synthetic Anti-Toxic Vaccine for Malaria | | | Louis Schofield, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia - AU |
| | | | | Louis Schofield of The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in Australia will develop a synthetic saccharide-conjugated vaccine that would provide immunity against GPI, a toxin produced by the malaria parasite that is a major determinant in the severity and fatality of the disease. |
| An Altruistic Vaccine for Mosquito Transmitted Pathogens | | | Paul Young, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia - AU |
| | | | | Mosquito transmitted pathogens such as dengue and malaria are a significant disease burden on the world’s population. Paul Young of the University of Queensland in Australia aims to develop a novel vaccine approach that is based on blocking mosquito transmission of these disease agents rather than inducing pathogen-specific immunity. |
| MicroCubes as Vaccines for the Developing World | | | Fasseli Coulibaly, Monash University, Clayton, Australia - AU |
| | | | | Fasséli Coulibaly of Monash University in Australia will design a novel vaccine platform based on protein micro-crystals produced by insect viruses. Coulibaly will engineer vaccines that utilize this stable structure to present multiple antigens with a slow-release delivery, and will test their ability to induce a vigorous immune response without the need for refrigerated vaccine storage. |
| Increasing Vaccination Efficacy with ACE Inhibitors | | | Julio Scharfstein, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - BR |
| | | | | Julio Scharfstein of Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro in Brazil will study whether a pre-dose of captopril, an established ACE inhibitor and anti-hypertension drug, can also increase the potency of vaccines by increasing activation of dendritic cells. |
Showing grants 171 to 180 of 383 | Large-Scale MHC Epitope Analysis for Vaccine Development | | | Gustavo Fioravanti Vieira, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil - BR |
| | | | | Gustavo Fioravanti Vieira of Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil will create 3-D computer models of viral epitopes anchored to different alleles of MHC molecules to search for “generalist” epitopes that can be used to develop viral vaccines that are effective against a broad spectrum of pathogens. |
| Stem Cell Basis of Tubercular Latency | | | Bikul Das, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States - US |
| | | | | Because adult stem cells reside in a microenvironment that maintains an inactive metabolic state, Bikul Das of Stanford University in the U.S. will examine whether TB hijacks this niche to maintain latency. |
| Vaccine Discovery by Mapping Quasi-species Sequence Space | | | Marco Vignuzzi, Pasteur Institute, Paris, France - FR |
| | | | | In organisms that have extreme mutation rates, such as RNA viruses, quasispecies are highly diverse genotypes that may drastically differ from the general population and often become less viable as they continue to mutate. Using new deep sequencing technology, Marco Vignuzzi of the Pasteur Institute in France hopes to identify such RNA viruses that have managed to retain attenuated strains in order to study these genotypes for possible use in the development of viral vaccines. |
| How to Break B Tolerance and Induce HIV-Protective Antibodies to CCR5 | | | Lucia Lopalco, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy - IT |
| | | | | HIV uses the CCR5 co-receptor protein found in mammals as a major pathway to enter target cells. Because some patients who are exposed, yet resistant, to the virus, or have HIV but do not ever progress to AIDS can exhibit the presence of CCR5 internalizing antibodies, Lucia Lopalco of the San Raffaele Scientific Institute in Italy will attempt to generate “anti-self” antibodies against CCR5 to knock out protein’s co-receptor and effectively block HIV entry. |
| Host Targets in Mtb Infection | | | Nigel Savage, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiderdorp, Netherlands - NL |
| | | | | Because tuberculosis manipulates host cells to resist the immune response and current drug therapies, Nigel Savage of Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands will utilize RNAi analysis to identify the essential pathways used by the bacteria to modify its host cell. By discovering these pathways, novel therapies can be developed to counteract this host manipulation without directly targeting the pathogen and causing the development of resistance. |
| Drug-Induced Differentiation of Trypanosomes Leads to Lysis | | | Reto Brun, Swiss Tropical Institute, Basel, Switzerland - CH |
| | | | | Reto Brun (Swiss Tropical Institute) and Isabel Roditi (University of Bern) seek to identify the molecules that cue African trypanosomes, which are parasites that cause fatal sleeping sickness, to differentiate into the life stages necessary for transmission of the parasite. Knowing how to force this transformation prematurely within the mammalian host will allow new ways to kill trypanosomes. |
| Malaria Prevention With the Help of Anti-Drug Antibodies | | | Erich Cerny, Wissenschaftlicher Fonds Onkologie, Geneva, Switzerland - CH |
| | | | | Erich Cerny of Wissenschaftlicher Fonds Onkologie in Switzerland will test whether inducing antibodies against anti-malarial drugs can significantly prolong the half-life of that drug. Antibodies elicited via immunization may form a reservoir of the active drug for long-lasting treatment for malaria. Such a “small molecule vaccine” has significant implications for efficacy and cost of malaria prevention. |
| Nanoparticle Platform for TB Vaccine Targeting Lymph Nodes | | | Melody Swartz, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland - CH |
| | | | | Melody Swartz and Jeffrey Hubbell of the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland, will explore the use of a robust and inexpensive nanotechnology, which may penetrate lymph tissue to more effectively trigger immune responses, as a new tool for prevention of TB. |
| Novel Magneto-Optical Biosensors for Malaria Diagnosis | | | Luke Savage, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom - GB |
| | | | | Luke Savage and Dave Newman will lead engineers at Exeter University in the UK in a program to develop a handheld, inexpensive battery-powered instrument that can rapidly diagnose malaria. By using magneto-optics to detect the hemozoin crystals produced as a byproduct of malaria parasite digestion of hemoglobin in the red blood cell, such techniques could offer a method to detect malaria which does not rely on invasive blood samples. |
| Infinite-Epitope Virus-like Particle Vaccines for HIV/AIDS | | | George Dickson, Royal Holloway and Bedford New College, Egham, United Kingdom - GB |
| | | | | One hypothesis of why protective immunity to HIV in the general population is very low is that the virus can exist in a hidden form in the body and can mutate very quickly to escape immune destruction. George Dickson of Royal Holloway University of London will design and evaluate so-called "infinite-epitope" vaccines for their potential to provide simultaneous and broad protective immunity to the many variant forms of HIV. |
Showing grants 181 to 190 of 383 | Experimental Human Carriage of Pneumococci | | | Stephen Gordon, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom - GB |
| | | | | Because human carriage of pneumococcus usually results in improved immunity to future infections without any development of disease, Stephen Gordon of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine in the UK will utilize an intranasal inoculation with a safe strain of the bacteria to study the mechanisms of mucosal immunity in the lungs and to explore the potential for a vaccine based on his findings.
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| Latency in M. tuberculosis – A Highly Dynamic Phenomenon | | | Maria Lerm, Linkoping University, Linkoping, Ostergotland, Sweden - SE |
| | | | | Maria Lerm of Linkoping University in Sweden will test her hypothesis that TB latency is a dynamic process in which a portion of the bacilli, when ingested by macrophages, trigger a genetic program where bacteria cycle between active and latent phases. Understanding whether this dynamic cycle exists could give new insights into maintaining or targeting the latent bacteria, which is the major reservoir of TB globally. |
| Mortalizing HIV – A Novel Method to Help Eradicate HIV | | | Reuben Harris, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States - US |
| | | | | A high HIV mutation rate enables escape from powerful immune responses and anti-retroviral drugs. Reuben Harris of the University of Minnesota in the U.S. will test the hypothesis that HIV requires the human APOBEC3G protein to maintain a high mutation rate necessary for HIV survival. Inhibiting this protein may slow the mutation rate and make the virus more susceptible to immune responses. |
| Primaquine Revisited – Safety and Efficacy of PQ Isomers | | | Larry Walker, University of Mississippi, University, United States - US |
| | | | | Larry Walker of the University of Mississippi in the U.S. will test an innovative approach to mitigate the toxicity of primaquine, a promising and powerful malaria drug. Walker will separate the drug into two components, called isomers, to see if a single form retains the ability to eliminate the malaria parasite in its latent liver stages and the mature gametocytes while reducing toxic side effects. |
| Zinc Finger Nucleases For in vivo Treatment of HIV Infection | | | Philip Gregory, Sangamo BioSciences Inc., Richmond, CA, United States - US |
| | | | | People born with a genetic mutation in their CCR5 gene are naturally resistant to HIV infection. Philip Gregory of Sangamo BioSciences, Inc. in the U.S. will use zinc finger nuclease technology to specifically disrupt the CCR5 gene as a new strategy to make people resistant to HIV. |
| A VLP-Based Phage Display System for HIV Vaccine Discovery | | | Bryce Chackerian, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States - US |
| | | | | Bryce Chackerian and David Peabody at the University of New Mexico in the U.S. have developed a new phage display system based on highly immunogenic virus-like particles (VLPs), and will utilize this new system as a platform to identify new vaccines that induce broadly neutralizing antibodies against HIV. |
| Small Molecule Antimicrobial Peptide Mimics as Antimalarials | | | Doron Greenbaum, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States - US |
| | | | | Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are essential components of the innate immune system that provides resistance to a variety of pathogenic organisms by selectively lysing, or bursting, cellular membranes of invading pathogens. Doron Greenbaum of the University of Pennsylvania in the U.S. will test whether small molecules that mimic the natural AMPs can selectively kill the parasite that causes malaria. Such an approach could reduce costs of production as well as limit the emergence of drug resistance. |
| Latency and Reactivation Revealed by Dynamic Imaging | | | Philana Lin, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States - US |
| | | | | Philana Ling Lin of the University of Pittsburgh in the U.S. will utilize imaging technologies such as PET and CT scans to study the biological mechanisms related to the reactivation of latent TB. This new technology aims to better understand the fundamental characteristics reactivation, as well as providing insight about new ways to induce or limit reactivation of latent TB. |
| Customized Insecticides for Combating Disease Vectors | | | John Abrams, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States - US |
| | | | | John Abrams of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in the U.S. will utilize novel mutagenesis and selection strategies to develop new variants of the Cry protein, a toxin producing the pathogen Bt, in an effort to create customized insecticides that can selectively target disease vectors without harming humans and non-target species. |
| Using Materials Science to Stop HIV Sexual Transmission | | | Patrick Kiser, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States - US |
| | | | | Patrick Kiser of the University of Utah in the U.S. will design a vaginal gel that blocks HIV by becoming impermeable in response to the pH change induced by the presence of semen, and includes a polymer engineered to bind to HIV surface proteins to halt viral transport to susceptible tissues and HIV target cells. Such a ‘liquid condom’ could become a new way for women to protect themselves from HIV infection. |
Showing grants 191 to 200 of 383 | Targeting TRP Channel Heat Receptors to Disrupt An. gambiae Host Seeking | | | Guirong Wang, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States - US |
| | | | | Guirong Wang and colleagues at Vanderbilt University in the U.S. have recently identified key sensory heat receptors used by mosquitoes to target hosts. Wang will use these proteins as molecular targets to develop insect repellents and masking agents that block or hyper-stimulate these receptors and reduce the ability of the vectors to find hosts and spread disease. |
| Metabolosomes: The Organizing Principle of Latency in Mtb | | | Kyu Rhee, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States - US |
| | | | | Kyu Rhee of Weill Cornell Medical College in the U.S. will test the theory that tuberculosis utilizes metabolosomes, which are protein-based metabolic structures, to enter into, maintain, and exit from latency. Understanding how metabolosomes work will aid in development of drugs that target TB. |
| Prevention of HIV by Mucosal Delivery using Lactobacillus | | | Laurel Lagenaur, Osel, Inc., Bethesda, MD, United States - US |
| | | | | Laurel Lagenaur of Osel, Inc. in the U.S. will engineer a native human vaginal bacteria to secrete a potent and broadly antiviral antibody fragment called scFv-m9, and evaluate the microbe’s ability to prevent HIV infection in the vaginal mucosa. |
| HSV-2 Vaccine Vector to Encode Multiple HIV T-cell Epitopes | | | Lynda Morrison, St. Louis University, St. Louis, MO, United States - US |
| | | | | Lynda Morrison of St. Louis University in the U.S. will develop a vaccine vector based on a prototype vaccine for herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) that encodes multiple CD8 T cell epitopes from HIV proteins, and test its ability to stimulate a robust CD8 T cell response against HIV. |
| Novel HIV-1 Env Immunogens for Immuno-Focusing | | | Ruth Ruprecht, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States - US |
| | | | | Ruth Ruprecht of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in the U.S. will develop a new vaccine platform for HIV based on the hypothesis that immunodominant regions of the virus may be irrelevant to neutralizing the virus and also prevent access to neutralizing epitopes in conserved regions. The team will also use structural mimics of important epitopes in an effort to generate a strong, broadly neutralizing antibody response against these conversed sites. |
| Hydrocarbon-Stapled GP41 Immunogens | | | Loren Walensky, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States - US |
| | | | | Loren Walensky of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in the U.S. will apply a new chemical technology to engineer structurally stable HIV-1 antigens for vaccine development. Walensky will test whether preserving the critical biologically active shape of HIV-1 polypeptides will yield neutralizing antibodies upon vaccination with his laboratory’s synthetic immunogens. |
| Dominant Lethal Probes to Investigate Latency in TB | | | Babak Javid, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States - US |
| | | | | The physiology of the tuberculosis bacteria during latency is not well understood. Babak Javid of the Harvard School of Public Health in the U.S. will explore the hypothesis that latent bacteria are metabolically active during latency. The team will use novel genetic probes to determine whether transcription and translation occur in the population of cells that are responsible for re-activation of TB from models of latency. |
| Targeting Erythrocyte Determinants of Malaria Infection | | | Manoj Duraisingh, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States - US |
| | | | | Manoj Duraisingh of the Harvard School of Public Health in the U.S. will utilize RNAi screening to identify critical determinants in human red blood cells (erythrocytes) that are required for invasion and growth of the malaria parasite. |
| Using Bacteria to Contain the Spread of Malaria | | | Marcelo Jacobs-Lorena, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States - US |
| | | | | Marcelo Jacobs-Lorena, of the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health in the U.S. proposes to modify bacteria that naturally inhabit the mosquito midgut to secrete proteins that interfere with the development of the malaria parasite in the mosquito that is necessary for malaria transmission. |
| Vaccine to Prevent Latent TB Infection | | | Gyanu Lamichanne, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States - US |
| | | | | Gyanu Lamichanne of Johns Hopkins University in the U.S. will develop a novel vaccine for TB based on existing BCG vaccines modified to express a gene that is specific to latent TB in order to generate a robust immune response to a latent infection. |
Showing grants 201 to 210 of 383 | Exosomes as a Novel M. tuberculosis Vaccine | | | Jeff Schorey, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, United States - US |
| | | | | Jeff Schorey of the University of Notre Dame in the U.S. will evaluate the use of exosomes, which are small membrane vesicles released from macrophages infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, as a new platform for TB vaccines. Exosomes contain proteins and glycolipids that can elicit a robust innate and acquired immune response. |
| Novel Malaria Vaccine Targets Linked to Cellular Import | | | Kasturi Haldar, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, United States - US |
| | | | | Kasturi Haldar of the University of Notre Dame in the U.S. will rapidly screen malaria parasite genes that are essential for invasion and growth in human red blood cells. Characterizing these proteins may reveal novel vaccine targets for blood stage infection. |
| Biosynthetic Immunotargeting for Pneumococcal Treatment | | | David Spiegel, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States - US |
| | | | | David A. Spiegel of Yale University in the U.S. will pursue an antibiotic strategy called “biosynthetic immunotargeting.” Streptococcus pneumoniae will be fed small molecules which they will incorporate into their cell walls. These small molecules contain an epitope recognized by antibodies in the human bloodstream, leading to immune clearance independent of bacterial antigens, representing a unique, resistance-free approach to pneumococcal disease. |
| HIV Protease-Dependent Activation of a Cytotoxic Prodrug | | | Craig Crews, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States - US |
| | | | | For viral replication, HIV viruses are dependent upon proteins, called proteases, to appropriately cleave peptides and form functional viral particles. Craig Crews of Yale University in the U.S. will attempt to exploit these proteases by designing a drug that will cleave only to HIV protease and release a cytotoxin that results in programmed cell death. |
| Novel Class of Long-Range Olfactory Repellents for Anopheles | | | Anandasankar Ray, University of California, Riverside, CA, United States - US |
| | | | | CO2 present in exhaled air is used by Anopheles mosquitoes to find their human hosts. Anandasankar Ray of University of California-Riverside plans to identify odors that inhibit the mosquito’s CO2- sensitive olfactory neurons, and design long-distance repellents that block the ability of mosquitoes to detect humans and protect large areas. |
| Targeted pH-Gated Nanoparticle Anti-TB Drug Delivery System | | | Marcus Horwitz, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States - US |
| | | | | Marcus Horwitz and colleagues at UCLA in the U.S. will develop and test a novel drug delivery system in which nanoparticles loaded with anti-TB drugs selectively target macrophages, and release the drugs intracellularly via a pH-dependent gate, allowing delivery of high concentrations on antibiotics into the host cells for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. |
| Therapeutic Pseudovirus Particles to Target Superspreaders | | | Leor Weinberger, University of California, San Diego, CA, United States - US |
| | | | | Highly infectious “superspreaders” often drive the spread of infectious agents but are difficult to identify and treat. Leor S. Weinberger of UCSD and James Lloyd-Smith of UCLA will develop and test engineered pseudoviruses called Therapeutic Infectious Particles (TIPs), which conditionally replicate along with the pathogen as it spreads through populations, but have their virulence elements replaced with therapeutic elements that slow down disease progression and curtail transmission. |
| Immunotherapy with iPS Derived From HIV-1 Specific B-Cells | | | Irvin Chen, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States - US |
| | | | | HIV destroys helper T cells, which are essential to activation of B-cells. Irvin Chen of UCLA in the U.S. will utilize inducible pluripotent stem cell technology to generate a constant, self-renewing source of antigen-specific B-cells, which target conserved HIV epitopes to eliminate HIV-infected cells. |
| A Small Molecule That Blocks Male-to-Female Sexual Transmission of HIV | | | David Eisenberg, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States - US |
| | | | | Recent evidence suggests that HIV infection may be drastically enhanced when a specific protein found in human semen is present in fibril form. David Eisenberg of UCLA in the U.S. will design and test a small peptide that can effectively block formation of fibrils on this protein. If successful, the therapy could be administered via spray or liquid drops to inhibit transmission of HIV. |
| Breastmilk shield to prevent HIV transmission | | | Gadi Borkow, Cupron Inc., Greensboro, NC, United States - US |
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