Our goal is
to investigate the role of replicating versus non-replicating vaccines
and the effect of vaccine routes (oral versus intranasal, IN) to prime
neonatal mucosal immune responses and to induce homotypic or heterotypic protection
against rotavirus challenge. We will examine
whether IN or oral 2/4/6/7VLPs can substitute for oral attenuated HRV in
priming for protective immunity with 2/6VLP boosters and homotypic or
heterotypic virulent
HRV challenge.
Using
various combinations of VLPs for priming and boosting, we will also investigate the
individual roles of VP4, VP6, and VP7 in heterotypic protection.
