How Lyme bacteria's internal tails let them move and cause joint infections
Official title: Delineation of unique flagellar proteins in spirochetes
Funded at East Carolina University · NIH-11242016 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are learning how the corkscrew motion and internal tail structures of Lyme bacteria help them reach and damage joints in people with Lyme disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | East Carolina University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Greenville, United States) |
| Project start | February 23, 2024 |
| Project end | December 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $507,617 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI132818-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11242016 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with confirmed Lyme disease, especially those experiencing joint pain or Lyme-related arthritis, would be most relevant to this research.
✕Less likely to help
People with non-Lyme types of arthritis or those seeking immediate changes to their clinical care are unlikely to get direct benefit from this basic lab-focused research.
What this research studies
This work focuses on the tiny internal tails (periplasmic flagella) that let Borrelia burgdorferi move through body tissues and cause Lyme-related arthritis. Scientists will use bacterial genetics, high-resolution microscopy, biochemical tests, and computer analyses to identify and describe the flagellar and collar proteins unique to these spirochetes. They will examine how changing these proteins affects bacterial movement and the ability to invade or damage joint tissues in lab models. The findings aim to reveal specific molecular steps the bacteria use to move and cause joint inflammation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could point to new drug or vaccine targets to stop Lyme bacteria from reaching and damaging joints.
How similar studies have gone: Studies of flagella in other bacteria have produced useful insights, but applying these methods to spirochete-specific periplasmic flagella is novel and less tested.
Where this research is happening
-
East Carolina University
Greenville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Motaleb, Md a — East Carolina University
- Study coordinator: Motaleb, Md a
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.