How gonorrhea hides inside immune cells
Mechanism of macrophages colonization in gonorrhea
Researchers are looking at how the bacteria that cause gonorrhea enter and live inside immune cells to better understand infections in people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Louisiana State Univ Hsc Shreveport NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Shreveport, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11323000 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project will use lab-grown immune cells and human mucosal samples to see how Neisseria gonorrhoeae gets into and survives inside macrophages. Scientists will identify the host cell receptors and bacterial adhesins that let the bacteria attach and manipulate the cell's actin skeleton. They will track whether the bacteria replicate inside these cells and compare those lab findings with samples from people with gonorrhea to connect the cell behavior to real infections.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with current gonorrhea infections or those willing to provide genital or rectal mucosal samples may be invited to contribute samples.
Not a fit: People without Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection or with unrelated medical issues are unlikely to benefit directly from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new targets to prevent or treat persistent gonorrhea infections by stopping the bacteria from hiding in immune cells.
How similar studies have performed: Some laboratory work has shown gonorrhea can survive in immune cells, but studying defined macrophage colonization and linking it to human mucosal samples is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
Shreveport, United States
- Louisiana State Univ Hsc Shreveport — Shreveport, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dragoi, Ana-Maria — Louisiana State Univ Hsc Shreveport
- Study coordinator: Dragoi, Ana-Maria
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.