Deciphering Borrelia burgdorferi gene switches in ticks and people
Official title: Deciphering Borrelia burgdorferi RpoS regulatory networks in ticks and mammals
Funded at University of Connecticut Sch of Med/dnt · NIH-11403975 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies how the Lyme disease bacterium changes its gene activity when it moves between ticks and mammals, aiming to better understand how infection happens.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Connecticut Sch of Med/dnt NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Farmington, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $744,771 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI192838-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11403975 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people in Lyme-endemic areas or individuals with suspected or confirmed Lyme disease who may benefit from future translational applications arising from understanding bacterial regulation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not exposed to Borrelia burgdorferi or not at risk for Lyme disease may not directly benefit from this basic research.
What this research studies
Researchers will map how Borrelia burgdorferi reprograms its genes as it passes between tick vectors and mammalian hosts. They will use a new sequencing approach to compare regulatory networks during tick feeding and mammalian infection, clarifying how the bacteria adapt to each host. The work also explores how other regulatory pathways influence RpoS-dependent gene expression, which could reveal new targets to prevent transmission and disease. Results could inform strategies to interrupt the life cycle of the Lyme disease agent and reduce human risk.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: A clearer picture of how Lyme disease bacteria adapt could lead to new prevention or treatment approaches that limit transmission and infection.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows that bacterial gene regulation during host transition affects infection, supporting the potential impact of this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Connecticut Sch of Med/dnt
Farmington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Caimano, Melissa J — University of Connecticut Sch of Med/dnt
- Study coordinator: Caimano, Melissa J
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.