Eosinophils and Bordetella infections: how these immune cells help bacteria persist and spread
Official title: Eosinophils promote persistence and transmission during Bordetella spp. infections
Funded at Louisiana State Univ Hsc Shreveport · NIH-11343093 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies how eosinophils influence persistent Bordetella infections, which can cause whooping cough, and what that means for preventing spread and improving treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Louisiana State Univ Hsc Shreveport NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Shreveport, United States) |
| Project start | June 16, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $513,411 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AI198447-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11343093 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with Bordetella infection or whooping cough may benefit from future therapies arising from this research.
✕Less likely to help
The study is conducted in animal models and may not directly involve patient participation in its current form.
What this research studies
Researchers will use Bordetella bacteria, mouse models, and immune tools to understand how eosinophils and the IL1Ra pathway contribute to lasting infection and coughing that helps transmission. The project aims to identify eosinophil-derived factors that allow Bordetella to persist and shed in the nose and airways. Findings could point to new therapies that limit persistence and transmission, ultimately reducing outbreaks. The work focuses on the interplay between the bacteria and host immune responses in a live model that mimics human disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to new strategies to reduce duration and spread of whooping cough.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research shows eosinophils can influence bacterial infections; this project expands on that by linking eosinophil activity to Bordetella persistence and transmission.
Where this research is happening
-
Louisiana State Univ Hsc Shreveport
Shreveport, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gestal, Monica Cartelle — Louisiana State Univ Hsc Shreveport
- Study coordinator: Gestal, Monica Cartelle
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.