# PATHOGENESIS OF NONTYPABLE HAEMOPHILUS INFLUENZAE

> **NIH NIH R01** · STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT BUFFALO · 1989 · $143,652

## Abstract

Nontypable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHI) is now well established as an
important pathogen in adults and children.  This bacterium causes
pneumonia, bacteremia, meningitis, post-partum sepsis and acute febrile
tracheobronchitis in adults.  In addition, NTHI causes neonatal sepsis and
is a frequent etiologic agent in acute otitis media in infants and
children.  With the recognition of NTHI as a human pathogen, studies are
planned to understand the pathogenesis and epidemiology of infection due to
this bacterium.  This proposal will focus on outer membrane proteins (OMP)
of NTHI.

The proposed studies can be divided into two major approaches.  In the
first part (Specific Aim 1) work will focus on antigenic differences of
OMP's among strains of NTHI.  These antigenic differences will be used to
form the basis of a serotyping system for NTHI based on OMP's.  The second
major approach (Specific Aim 2) will focus on common antigens of OMP's
among strains of NTHI.  We will identify OMP's which are a)
surface-exposed, b) targets of human antibody, and c) common to many
strains of NTHI.  These OMP's will be further characterized by studying
their surface-exposed peptides and the role of these OMP's and peptides in
human immunity to NTHI infection.

1. Using an OMP serotyping system based on polyclonal serum as a
foundation, we will develop a serotyping system by identifying monoclonal
antibodies directed against serotype-specific determinants on OMP's.  Once
this system is developed, we will study a collection of epidemiologically
well-defined strains of NTHI to determine the distribution characteristics
of these determinants among disease and carrier isolates.

2. Surface-exposed epitopes on OMP's will be identified and characterized.
We will focus on OMP's which are common to many strains of NTHI and which
are targets of human antibody.  The surface-exposed peptides will be
identified and synthesized.  The OMP's will be isolated.  The role of the
OMP's and peptides as targets of human bactericidal antibody will be
assessed.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3128985
- **Project number:** 5R01AI019641-07
- **Recipient organization:** STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT BUFFALO
- **SAM.gov UEI:** LMCJKRFW5R81
- **Principal Investigator:** Timothy F Murphy
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1989
- **Award amount:** $143,652
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1983-09-30 → 1990-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3128985

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3128985, PATHOGENESIS OF NONTYPABLE HAEMOPHILUS INFLUENZAE (5R01AI019641-07). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3128985. Licensed CC0.

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