|
Baylor Institute for Immunology Research
3434 Live Oak St.
Dallas, Texas 75204
PWSBIIR@baylorhealth.edu
Tel: (214) 820-7451
Fax: (214) 820-4813
|
|
|
 |
|
NIAID-BIIR Cooperative Center for Translation Research in
Human Immunology and Biodefense
 |
While a wealth of vaccines has been developed, natural evolution and engineering for bioterrorism purposes creates a novel biothreat for which novel vaccines are needed. Dendritic cells (DCs) play a central role in the differentiation of immune effectors and thus are a major target for vaccination. Given the fact that distinct human DC subsets differentially control lymphocytes, it is important to understand how distinct DC subsets modulate vaccine immunity in vivo. Such knowledge will permit us to design targeted vaccines that will induce a desired type of immunity. Vaccines need to be tested in vivo but studies in mice often cannot be directly extrapolated to humans because of biological differences. Hence, the need for pre-clinical models of the human immune system for testing vaccine efficacy.
With this in mind, the goal of the Baylor/NIAID Center for Translational Research on Human Immunology and Biodefense is to develop effective diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic measures against NIAID Category A-C pathogens through a focus on human dendritic cell subsets, which act as innate effectors as well as initiators and coordinators of adaptive immune responses. |
 |
Objectives:
- Develop our in vivo model of human immune responses based on mice reconstituted with a full human immune system.
- Generate novel monoclonal antibodies identifying i) the various human DC subsets at their various stages of maturation, and ii) peptides derived from biothreat antigens presented by dendritic cells.
- Determine how Category A-C pathogens alter human dendritic cells in vitro and in vivo.
- Determine the effects of Category A-C pathogens on the human immune system in vivo.
- Identify the in vivo biosignatures of human Category A-C pathogens to allow rapid biothreat diagnosis, prediction of disease severity and initiation of biothreat specific treatment.
- Test and identify in vivo novel human vaccines as biothreat countermeasures.
The Program will include a Technical Development Component, four projects, three Core facilities: Administration, Microarray and Luminex multiplex analysis, and an Education component. Two pilot projects are also proposed.
The Center includes investigators at Baylor Institute for Immunology Research, Yale University, Rockefeller University, NIAID, University of New Mexico and UT Southwestern.
|
Collaborative Centers
|
|
|
| |
|
Baylor Intranet |
Baylor Portal