Genetic tools to understand the tick-borne bacterium Rickettsia parkeri
Generation and characterization of a large-scale transposon mutant library of Rickettsia parkeri
Researchers are making many genetically altered versions of the tick-borne bacterium Rickettsia parkeri to learn how it grows and causes illness, which could help people with rickettsial infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11249678 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project will create a large collection of Rickettsia parkeri bacteria with single-gene disruptions so scientists can see which genes are needed for bacterial growth and interaction with host cells. The team will build and validate plasmid tools to make these mutations and to turn genes on or off or tag them for study. After generating the mutant library, researchers will screen and analyze mutants to identify bacterial factors that control division, survival, and virulence. The work is laboratory-based and uses cell models and genetic analyses to reveal mechanisms that could point to new treatment targets.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who have had or are at risk for tick-borne rickettsial infections (spotted fever group rickettsioses) would be most directly interested in this research.
Not a fit: Patients with infections unrelated to Rickettsia species are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could identify bacterial genes that are promising targets for new antibiotics, vaccines, or diagnostics for rickettsial infections.
How similar studies have performed: Smaller collections of Rickettsia parkeri transposon mutants have previously produced useful insights, and this project expands that approach to a much larger, more powerful library.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Goley, Erin D — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Goley, Erin D
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 below.