How a pneumococcus enzyme helps the bacteria infect people
Streptococcus pneumoniae HtrA and its target interactions
Researchers are learning how a protein made by Streptococcus pneumoniae helps the bacteria cause infection so it can point toward better ways to prevent or treat pneumococcal disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11293390 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project looks at a specific bacterial protein called HtrA that helps Streptococcus pneumoniae survive and interact with human cells. Scientists will use laboratory techniques such as NMR, cryo-electron microscopy, and crystallography to observe the protein's shapes and how it binds other molecules. They will study whether HtrA works as a single unit or joins up into larger complexes and identify its likely targets. The work is lab-based and aims to reveal the step-by-step molecular events the enzyme uses during infection.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who have had pneumococcal infections, recurrent pneumonia, carriers of S. pneumoniae, or those at high risk for pneumococcal disease would be most connected to the potential outcomes of this research.
Not a fit: Patients with non-bacterial (for example viral) respiratory illnesses or conditions unrelated to pneumococcus are unlikely to see direct benefit from this specific basic-science project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new drug or vaccine targets to prevent or treat pneumococcal infections.
How similar studies have performed: Structural and mechanistic studies of HtrA proteins from other bacteria have yielded useful insights, but the pneumococcal HtrA branch remains largely unstudied and is novel in key ways.
Where this research is happening
Aurora, UNITED STATES
- University of Colorado Denver — Aurora, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Eisenmesser, Elan Z — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Eisenmesser, Elan Z
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.