How bacteria recognize themselves and others to form multicellular structures
Official title: Self-nonself recognition and multicellularity in myxobacteria
Funded at University of Wyoming · NIH-11057627 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how bacteria called Myxococcus xanthus recognize and work together with their own kind, especially when facing tough situations like not having enough food, to help us understand how cells communicate and cooperate, which could also relate to how more complex organisms, including humans, function.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wyoming NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Laramie, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2021 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $361,250 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM140886-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11057627 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for benefiting from this research would include individuals with conditions related to cellular behavior and communication, such as certain cancers or degenerative diseases.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions unrelated to cellular interactions or multicellularity may not receive direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how individual cells in a multicellular organism, specifically the bacterium Myxococcus xanthus, recognize each other as self to work together effectively. By studying this model organism, the research aims to understand the mechanisms behind cell communication and cooperation, particularly in response to environmental challenges like starvation. The approach involves examining specific cell surface receptors that facilitate interactions between similar cells, leading to either cooperation or antagonism. The findings could shed light on fundamental biological processes that are relevant to more complex organisms, including humans.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance our understanding of cellular interactions, potentially leading to advancements in treating diseases related to cell communication and multicellularity.
How similar studies have gone: While this research explores a relatively novel area of cell recognition and multicellularity, similar studies in other organisms have shown promising results in understanding cellular interactions.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Wyoming
Laramie, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wall, Daniel — University of Wyoming
- Study coordinator: Wall, Daniel
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Studying how aging and Alzheimer’s affect the front part of the brain using real-time imaging and computer models
Researchers will combine live brain imaging in animals with computer simulations to understand how aging and Alzheimer’s disease change the prefrontal cortex and relate to memory and thinking problems.
-
Remote AI-guided speech cues to help people with Parkinson’s speak more clearly
A remote AI-based tool uses a web camera to give personalized speech cues to adults with Parkinson’s to improve how clearly they talk.
-
Unlocking biased GPCR signaling to guide safer, smarter drugs
A research program from the University of Wyoming aims to understand how different beta-arrestin proteins shape GPCR signaling to help design drugs with better therapeutic effects and fewer side effects.
-
Ribosomal proteins and pseudogenes in stress-affected neurons
This project looks at how stress changes the proteins that make up ribosomes in brain cells, which could reveal new ways stress affects nervous system health.
-
Impact of early overfeeding on brain hunger neurons and energy balance
This grant looks at how early-life overnutrition may change brain circuits that control hunger and energy use, with potential implications for preventing obesity-related diseases.
-
Exercise timing to reset the brain’s body clock in breast cancer care
A study tests whether exercising at specific times can reset the brain’s circadian clock and potentially improve well-being for people coping with breast cancer.
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.