Creating mutant strains of a bacteria to understand its disease-causing effects
Official title: Generation of Orientia tsutsugamushi mutant strains for pathogenesis research
Funded at University of Texas Med Br Galveston · NIH-11001506 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at scrub typhus, a serious illness caused by a germ, and aims to create different versions of this germ to learn more about how it makes people sick, which could help in making better vaccines and treatments for everyone affected.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Med Br Galveston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Galveston, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2024 |
| Project end | December 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $278,013 |
| NIH project number | 5R61AI179997-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11001506 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals living in or traveling to regions where scrub typhus is prevalent, especially those at risk of infection.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not at risk of scrub typhus or those living in areas where the disease is not present may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on scrub typhus, a serious disease caused by the bacterium Orientia tsutsugamushi, which can lead to severe health complications and high mortality rates. The researchers aim to generate mutant strains of this bacterium using advanced genetic techniques to better understand its biology and how it causes disease. By creating a library of these mutants, they hope to uncover critical information that could lead to the development of effective vaccines and treatments. This work is particularly important as scrub typhus is spreading to new regions where it was previously uncommon.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the development of vaccines and treatments for scrub typhus, potentially saving lives.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success in using genetic manipulation techniques on related bacteria, indicating that this approach could be effective for Orientia tsutsugamushi as well.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Med Br Galveston
Galveston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Narra, Hema Prasad — University of Texas Med Br Galveston
- Study coordinator: Narra, Hema Prasad
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.