Cultivation and Genomic Study of Orientia in the US
Official title: Cultivation, Genomic Characterization, and Virulence Assessment of U.S. Orientia
Funded at North Carolina State University Raleigh · NIH-11441102 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A patient-facing overview of a study to understand the bacteria Orientia that causes scrub typhus, how it grows in the US, and its genetic makeup.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | North Carolina State University Raleigh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Raleigh, United States) |
| Project start | July 14, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $239,429 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AI202473-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11441102 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include individuals at risk for exposure to ticks/chiggers or populations in regions with scrub typhus activity, plus researchers handling infectious samples.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not exposed to regions with scrub typhus or not involved in related public health surveillance may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to grow and study Orientia bacteria found in the United States and to map its genome to learn what makes it potentially harmful. Researchers will use 16S sequencing and related genomic techniques to identify the Orientia strains and understand their virulence. The study involves laboratory work with human health implications and could inform how we detect and respond to scrub typhus in our communities. Results could improve future diagnostics, surveillance, and prevention strategies for people at risk.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could improve detection and prevention of scrub typhus in the US and help public health teams respond to potential outbreaks more effectively.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown that Orientia can be detected in vectors and hosts, but this US-focused genomic characterization is a novel step that may lead to new insights.
Where this research is happening
-
North Carolina State University Raleigh
Raleigh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ponnusamy, Loganathan — North Carolina State University Raleigh
- Study coordinator: Ponnusamy, Loganathan
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.