How inflammatory lipids affect plague infection
Official title: Impact of inflammatory lipids on Yersinia pestis infection
Funded at University of Louisville · NIH-10888400 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain fats in the body affect the immune response when someone gets infected with the plague bacteria, Yersinia pestis, to find new ways to improve treatment for those affected.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Louisville NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Louisville, United States) |
| Project start | July 14, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $723,955 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI178106-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10888400 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research would include individuals at risk of plague infection or those with a history of severe bacterial infections.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-bacterial infections or those not at risk for plague may not receive any benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of inflammatory lipids in the infection process of Yersinia pestis, the bacterium responsible for plague. It focuses on understanding how these lipids influence the body's immune response during the early stages of infection. By studying the mechanisms through which Y. pestis inhibits inflammation, the research aims to uncover potential therapeutic strategies to enhance treatment outcomes. The approach involves examining the synthesis of pro-inflammatory eicosanoids and their impact on immune signaling.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved therapies for treating plague and potentially other bacterial infections by enhancing the body's inflammatory response.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific role of lipid mediators in plague has not been previously studied, similar approaches in other bacterial infections have shown promising results.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Louisville
Louisville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lawrenz, Matthew B — University of Louisville
- Study coordinator: Lawrenz, Matthew B
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Gastric rhythm map to understand stomach problems using a new noninvasive tool
A new noninvasive body surface mapping method is being tested to see if abnormal stomach electrical rhythms explain chronic stomach problems like functional dyspepsia and persistent nausea.
-
Novel antivirals for alphavirus arthritis
A research team is refining a promising antiviral compound to treat alphavirus infections that cause arthritis, with a focus on Chikungunya and related viruses.
-
Linking heavy metal exposure to a tougher breast cancer type (TNBC)
Aimed at understanding how heavy metals like cadmium might trigger a dangerous breast cancer type (TNBC) in people, especially those with BRCA1 risk, to identify possible future treatment strategies.
-
Cardiac safety of flavored e-cigarette aerosols in adults
A pharmacist or clinician would test how inhaling flavored e-cigarette aerosols affects heart rhythm in adults to see if flavors raise the risk of heart problems.
-
Biomedical Research Facilities to Expand Precision Medicine in Kentucky
A large NIH grant aims to renovate and expand a shared precision medicine center in Kentucky to speed up research that could improve health for people in Appalachia and surrounding areas.
-
Rac-enhanced CAR-Macrophages against TNBC
A new cell therapy approach uses engineered macrophages with a CAR and Rac2 activation to target and kill triple-negative breast cancer cells expressing CSPG4.
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.