How certain bacteria grab iron from human hemoglobin
Molecular basis of heme scavenging by Gram-positive bacteria
Researchers are exploring how Corynebacterium diphtheriae and related bacteria take heme (iron) from human hemoglobin to support infection.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11247590 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project looks at how the diphtheria bacterium takes iron from your red blood cells to grow. Scientists will use purified human hemoglobin, bacterial cultures, protein biochemistry, proteomics, and structural biology to see how surface receptors like HbpA grab heme and how proteins move heme across the cell wall. They will map and image the proteins involved, test how they bind and transfer heme, and compare these systems across related Actinobacteria. Most work is done in the laboratory rather than in clinics, but the findings could point to ways to block bacterial iron uptake.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants would be people with confirmed Corynebacterium diphtheriae infection or healthy donors willing to provide blood samples for hemoglobin, although most experiments are laboratory-based.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate clinical treatment or those with unrelated conditions are unlikely to receive direct medical benefit from this basic laboratory research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify new targets for drugs or vaccines that block bacterial iron uptake and help prevent or treat infections.
How similar studies have performed: Related structural and biochemical studies have successfully revealed iron uptake mechanisms in other bacteria, but applying these methods to C. diphtheriae's HbpA receptor and cell-wall transfer is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, United States
- University of California Los Angeles — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Clubb, Robert Thompson — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Clubb, Robert Thompson
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.