ER stress and proteasome changes in Rickettsia infections
Official title: Contribution of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress responses in Rickettsia pathogenesis
Funded at Louisiana State Univ A&m Col Baton Rouge · NIH-11356125 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant explores how ER stress responses and proteasome function in human-like immune cells affect the behavior of Rickettsia bacteria that cause serious diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Louisiana State Univ A&m Col Baton Rouge NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baton Rouge, United States) |
| Project start | September 2, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $219,174 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AI199678-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11356125 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to directly enrolled patients in this grant since it is a laboratory study.
✕Less likely to help
Patients would not participate in this study as it uses cell lines and non-human subjects in a preclinical setup.
What this research studies
In this project, researchers will study how infection with Rickettsia alters protein machinery inside human immune cells, focusing on the ER stress response and the 20S proteasome. They will use cell-based models, including THP-1 macrophages, to observe changes in gene and protein activity during infection. The aim is to understand how these cellular pathways help the bacteria grow and survive inside cells, which could reveal new angles for treatments or prevention. The work is preclinical but directly tied to human infection biology and could inform future clinical approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Gaining insights into how Rickettsia manipulates human cell pathways could lead to new strategies to treat or prevent infections.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown ER stress and proteasome alterations in infected cells, supporting the plausibility of these mechanisms.
Where this research is happening
-
Louisiana State Univ A&m Col Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Martinez, Juan J — Louisiana State Univ A&m Col Baton Rouge
- Study coordinator: Martinez, Juan J
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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.