Brucella brain infection: how it gets into the brain and how the immune system helps or hinders
Official title: Pathogenesis of Neurobrucellosis
Funded at Montana State University - Bozeman · NIH-11421281 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A mouse study is testing how Brucella bacteria reach the brain and how immune signals and T cells affect brain infection and inflammation.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Montana State University - Bozeman NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bozeman, United States) |
| Project start | August 18, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $560,708 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AI200948-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11421281 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with Brucella infection who might be at risk for or are being evaluated for neurobrucellosis, in the future.
✕Less likely to help
This specific study uses mice and may not directly benefit patients during the study period.
What this research studies
In this project, scientists use mouse models of neurobrucellosis to explore how Brucella crosses the blood-brain barrier and colonizes the brain. They will examine how different interferon signals in hematopoietic and non-hematopoietic cells influence brain protection and barrier integrity. They will also look at the roles of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the development of brain infection and inflammation. Finally, they will identify whether Brucella travels in myeloid cells and what bacterial genes are needed for brain colonization. The goal is to uncover mechanisms that could guide new therapeutic strategies for neurobrucellosis in humans.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better understanding of how brain infection occurs could lead to targeted therapies to prevent or treat neurobrucellosis.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work established mouse models of neurobrucellosis showing brain invasion and inflammation, and this study builds on that approach to dissect immune mechanisms.
Where this research is happening
-
Montana State University - Bozeman
Bozeman, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Skyberg, Jerod — Montana State University - Bozeman
- Study coordinator: Skyberg, Jerod
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.