How bacteria and archaea remember and defend against viruses using CRISPR
Official title: Spacer acquisition during the type III-A CRISPR-Cas immune response
Funded at Rockefeller University · NIH-11019813 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how tiny organisms like bacteria and archaea remember past virus attacks using a special system called CRISPR, and it aims to understand how they keep this memory alive in their communities to better defend against future infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rockefeller University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2023 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $391,918 |
| NIH project number | 5R01GM149834-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11019813 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with infections caused by bacteria that utilize the CRISPR-Cas immune system, such as Staphylococcus aureus.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with viral infections that do not involve bacteria or those who do not have infections caused by CRISPR-utilizing bacteria may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how bacteria and archaea use a system called CRISPR to remember past infections by viruses. When a virus attacks, these microorganisms can integrate a small piece of the virus's DNA into their own genetic material, which helps them recognize and defend against future infections. The study focuses on understanding how these memory sequences, known as spacers, are maintained in bacterial communities after the initial infection. By examining the mechanisms involved in this process, the research aims to shed light on the adaptive immune response of these organisms.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance our understanding of bacterial immunity, potentially leading to new strategies for combating bacterial infections.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding CRISPR systems, indicating that this approach has the potential for significant advancements in the field.
Where this research is happening
-
Rockefeller University
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Marraffini, Luciano a — Rockefeller University
- Study coordinator: Marraffini, Luciano a
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
How cells organize into organized tissues to form organs
Researchers are studying how human-like cells in a lab can self-organize within a scaffold to form orderly tissue patterns, which could illuminate how organs such as skin and bones develop.
-
Modeling Ataxia Telangiectasia in a human stem cell model of Purkinje cells
Researchers are creating a patient-derived, human cell model of Purkinje cells to understand why this brain disease causes cerebellar degeneration in people with Ataxia Telangiectasia.
-
Centers studying how cancer spreads through the body
A multi-institutional project at Rockefeller University is exploring how nerves, blood vessels, lymphatics, immune cells, and metabolites influence the spread of cancer to help identify new ways to stop metastasis.
-
Understanding how mycobacterial transcription works to guide better TB drugs
Researchers will study how the RNA polymerase of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and related bacteria start, pause, and finish copying genetic information, with the goal of informing new antibiotic strategies against TB.
-
How chromosomes stay true when cells divide in cancer research
Researchers are studying how chromosomes are accurately copied and distributed during cell division to understand and potentially prevent cancer.
-
Marmoset model of Huntington's disease shows how symptoms relate to brain and behavior
A researcher at a top university is studying how Huntington's disease affects brain signals and behavior in marmosets to better understand the human condition.
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.