How Cryptosporidium changes intestinal cell structure to invade
Official title: Role of Cryptosporidium effectors in host actin manipulation
Funded at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign · NIH-11388209 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work looks at whether proteins from the parasite Cryptosporidium change the scaffolding inside intestinal cells to help the parasite cause diarrhea in young children and people with weak immune systems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Champaign, United States) |
| Project start | May 5, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $226,768 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AI200215-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11388209 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This research would most directly benefit infants and young children (about 0–11 years) and people with weakened immune systems who are at high risk for cryptosporidiosis.
✕Less likely to help
People whose diarrhea is caused by other pathogens or who already have long-term intestinal damage may not benefit directly from these findings.
What this research studies
Researchers will study secreted proteins from Cryptosporidium parvum that may hijack the host cell's actin network during invasion. They will use CRISPR gene editing along with lab cell experiments and animal models to turn off or alter these parasite genes and watch how host cells respond. The team will look for how actin polymerization creates the 'actin pedestal' the parasite sits on and measure effects on infection. Results aim to identify parasite or host factors that could be targeted by future treatments or vaccines.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new drug or vaccine targets to prevent or treat cryptosporidiosis in children and immunocompromised people.
How similar studies have gone: Some labs have used CRISPR in Cryptosporidium and related parasites, but the specific parasite effectors that remodel host actin remain largely unknown, making this a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Alam, Sumiti Vinayak — University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Study coordinator: Alam, Sumiti Vinayak
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.