How a gut bacterium’s secret system may harm the colon and spread
Official title: Type VII secretion in Streptococcus gallolyticus pathogenesis
Funded at Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr · NIH-11373841 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are looking at how a protein released by the gut bacterium Streptococcus gallolyticus can change colon cells and help the bacteria cause bloodstream infections in people with or at risk for colorectal cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (College Station, United States) |
| Project start | December 1, 2023 |
| Project end | October 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $78,729 |
| NIH project number | 3R01AI163206-03S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11373841 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with diagnosed colorectal cancer, recent Streptococcus gallolyticus bacteremia or infective endocarditis, or those found to carry Sgg during colon evaluations would be most relevant to this research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without Sgg exposure or with cancers unrelated to the colon are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
What this research studies
This project focuses on Streptococcus gallolyticus, a gut bacterium linked to colorectal cancer and serious bloodstream infections. Scientists will examine a bacterial secretion machine called the Type VII system and a specific protein, EsxA, to learn how it interacts with the colon lining and a host growth receptor. The team will use lab-grown human colon cells, animal models, and analyses of patient-derived tissues or samples to track how the bacterium crosses the intestinal barrier and promotes tumor growth. The goal is to identify the bacterial factors and human pathways that allow Sgg to drive colon tumors and systemic infection so new prevention or treatment targets can be developed.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to prevent or treat Sgg-related bloodstream infections and reduce the bacterium’s contribution to colorectal cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Previous laboratory and animal studies have shown Sgg can promote colon tumor growth and that bacterial secretion systems affect virulence, but targeting the EsxA–host receptor interaction is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr
College Station, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Xu, Yi — Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr
- Study coordinator: Xu, Yi
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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.