# CARBOHYDRATE VACCINES FOR H INFLUENZAE B & S PNEUMONIAE

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER · 1990 · $205,844

## Abstract

Invasive infections (such as meningitis) and middle ear infections due to
Haemophilus influenzas or Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococci) are a
threat to infant health, and pneumococci are a hazard in the elderly.
Relatively few capsular types account for the majority of such
infections, which are preventable by antibody (Ab) to the respective
capsular polysaccharides (CP). In infancy the challenge is the slow
maturation of Ab responses to pure CP vaccines. Responsiveness can be
accelerated by coupling CP antigens to a protein carrier ("conjugate
vaccines"). Several biologics firms have devised candidate vaccines for
H. influenzas type b (Hib, but the structural basis for immunogenicity
(and failures thereof) is unclear. Our goal has been the definition of
structural and other variables that determine immunogenicity of conjugate
vaccines in the very young infant. Much progress has been made with the
Hib CP although some variables remain to be clarified.

The licensed multivalent pneumococcal CP vaccine appears ineffective for
the institutionalized elderly and those with underlying disease. Part of
the problem may be a decline in Ab responsiveness to particular CP
serotypes.

Specific goals in the continuation of this project are: 1) To further
define structural factors governing immunogenicity of Hib
oligosaccharides coupled to the protein CRM-197, 2) To analyze the role
of T lymphocyte epitopes of the CRM-197 component upon its carrier
activity, by testing the reactivity with a panel of CRM-197-reactive
murine T cell clones and monoclonal Abs; 3) To pursue structure-
immunogenicity relationships of conjugates of pneumococcal serotypes
6,14,18,19, and 23, which cause the bulk of infant disease and which, as
CP, are poorly immunogenic in infancy, 4) To examine the immunogenicity
of pneumococcal conjugates in elderly humans, especially serotypes (e.g.,
types 3 and 6) prevalent in old age and which, as cp, are poorly
immunogenic. If the conjugates are immunogenic, we would examine whether
(as in infants) "priming" with the conjugate increases the capacity for a
response to the CP alone. If so, an oligovalent conjugate of problematic
serotypes might prime the elderly for a broadly consistent response to
the extant 23-valent CP vaccine.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3127547
- **Project number:** 5R01AI017938-10
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER
- **SAM.gov UEI:** F27KDXZMF9Y8
- **Principal Investigator:** PORTER W ANDERSON
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1990
- **Award amount:** $205,844
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1981-03-01 → 1994-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3127547

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3127547, CARBOHYDRATE VACCINES FOR H INFLUENZAE B & S PNEUMONIAE (5R01AI017938-10). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3127547. Licensed CC0.

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