# Sex-specific effects of obestity on Influenza A virus infection and immunity

> **NIH NIH P20** · KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $307,034

## Abstract

Project Summary 
Obesity is an important comorbidity for worse outcomes from infectious diseases and following vaccination. In 
humans and mouse models, obesity is associated with severe outcomes from influenza A virus (IAV) infection 
and inferior protection after influenza vaccination. In non-obese humans and mouse models, we have shown 
that biological sex plays significant role on IAV pathogenesis and immune responses, mediated by differences 
in sex steroid hormones and sex chromosomes. However, at present we do not know anything regarding how 
biological sex modifies the outcomes of IAV infection and immunity in obese population. Obese males and 
females differ with each other in terms of adiposity, adipokines availability, and inflammatory cells and cytokine 
concentrations. Therefore, we hypothesize that obesity alters the outcomes of IAV infection and vaccine-induced 
immunity and protection in a sex-specific manner. Using a mouse model of obesity, in aim 1, we will study sex 
differences during IAV pathogenesis while aim 2 will experiment sex-specific differences in IAV-vaccine induced 
immunity and protection. Associations of adipokines, inflammatory cells and cytokines, B and T-cell responses, 
and sex steroid hormones with IAV pathogenesis and immune responses will be explored among obese and 
non-obese male and female mice. Thus, this study will fill the critical gap existing in our understanding of 
interaction between biological sex and obesity during IAV infection and immunity. This will open new avenues to 
optimize influenza therapeutics and vaccines with better protective efficacies for the obese population.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10915426
- **Project number:** 5P20GM130448-05
- **Recipient organization:** KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Santosh Dhakal
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $307,034
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-06-01 → 2026-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10915426

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10915426, Sex-specific effects of obestity on Influenza A virus infection and immunity (5P20GM130448-05). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/10915426. Licensed CC0.

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