SARS CoV2 infection and vaccination in inborn errors of immunity

2021 AIFA PID Clinical Research Grant (supported by CSL Behring)

Professor Stuart Tangye, Garvan Institute of Medical Research

This project will investigate the quality and quantity of immune responses that occur in people with primary immune deficiencies that result from errors/mutations in specific genes.

The emergence of SARS-CoV2 and the subsequent COVID19 pandemic has given a whole new appreciation of the critical role of our immune system in keeping us healthy in the face of infections. While the fundamental aspects of how our immune system operates have been determined, there are still many unknowns in terms of the efficiency, longevity and durability of immune responses to natural infection and vaccination.

The impact of genetic defects on immunity and immune memory - in the context of both eliciting protective long-term immune responses and contributing to immune-mediated adverse events - remain unclear.

This project will investigate the quality and quantity of immune responses that occur in people with primary immune deficiencies that result from errors/mutations in specific genes. It will specifically assess the health outcomes in these people following either natural infection with SARS-CoV2 or vaccination. By studying the ability of people with defined conditions of immune dysregulation, Professor Tangye and his team will reveal the non-redundant (and redundant) molecular, cellular and functional requirements for effective immunity against SARS-CoV2, as well as identify mediators of severe COVID19.

These results will provide important information relating to long-term protective immunity against novel viruses, strategies for further optimizing outcomes of vaccination, and opportunities for immune modulation in the context of adverse events of infection and vaccination, such as hyper-active immunity and cytokine storm.

AIFA PID Clinical Research Grant of $30,000 (supported by CSL Behring)