Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) awarded a $729,189 Project Grant under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855) to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, effective February 10, 2026 through January 31, 2031. This research initiative focuses on elucidating the pathophysiology of severe yellow fever (YF) virus (YFV), with particular emphasis on understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying vaccine attenuation in the widely-used 17D live-attenuated vaccine strain compared to its virulent parental Asibi strain. The research leverages a hamster animal model that accurately recapitulates human YF disease characteristics and employs advanced reverse genetics systems to create chimeric YFV variants for systematic investigation.

The primary deliverables under this grant include scientific research products designed to identify and characterize innate immune response mechanisms differentiating virulent YFV-Asibi from attenuated YFV-17D, with specific focus on two NS2B gene mutations and their relationship to Type I interferon induction and viral attenuation. The project will produce peer-reviewed publications, experimental data on viral replication and disease pathogenesis, and characterization of molecular mechanisms governing differential interferon responses. These research outputs are intended to advance fundamental understanding of YFV pathogenesis and vaccine development, contributing to global public health capacity for managing yellow fever as an emerging infectious disease threat.