NIH-Funded U19 Project on Correlates of Protective Immunity to HCV
Newgiza University (NGU) is a partner site in the NIH-funded U19 project “Correlates of Protective Immunity to HCV and Rational Vaccine Design”, where Prof. Dr. Nourtan F. Abdeltawab serves as the Site Principal Investigator. This international collaboration with Emory University (USA) and the University of Montreal (Canada) aims to identify the immune mechanisms that protect against hepatitis C virus (HCV) reinfection. This project contributes directly to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being, as it advances global efforts to combat infectious diseases, promotes vaccine development, and supports research aimed at ensuring healthy lives and improving health outcomes for all.
Data Gathering:
The project involves extensive data collection and analysis of human immune responses to HCV, including:
- Measurement of T cell and B cell responses.
- Use of activation-induced marker assays to identify and isolate HCV-specific T cells.
- Application of single-cell RNA sequencing to study immune cell populations.
- Collection of clinical and laboratory data from individuals with HCV infection or reinfection.
This work directly contributes to identifying correlates of protection and advancing vaccine design.
Capacity Building at NGU:
- Establishment of a state-of-the-art immunology laboratory at NGU, enabling advanced research in Egypt.
- Training and mentoring young researchers, building long-term research capacity in immunology and infectious diseases.
Supporting Publications (2024):
- Eisa M, Flores N, Khedr O, Gomez-Escobar E, Bédard N, Abdeltawab NF, Bruneau J, Grakoui A, Shoukry NH. Activation-induced marker assay to identify and isolate HCV-specific T cells for single-cell RNA-seq analysis. Viruses. 2024; 16(10):1623. https://doi.org/10.3390/v16101623
- Eisa M, Gomez-Escobar E, Bédard N, Abdeltawab NF, Flores N, Mazouz S, Fieffé-Bédard A, Sakayan P, Gridley J, Abdel-Hakeem MS, Bruneau J, Grakoui A, Shoukry NH. Coordinated expansion of memory T follicular helper and B cells mediates spontaneous clearance of HCV reinfection. Front Immunol. 2024; 15:1403769. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2024.1403769