How relapsing fever bacteria use c-di-AMP to switch between ticks and people
Cyclic di-AMP-dependent signaling in tickborne relapsing fever Borrelia
Researchers aim to learn how a small bacterial signal called c-di-AMP helps relapsing fever bacteria switch between ticks and people, which could point to new ways to prevent or treat infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Arkansas for Med Scis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Little Rock, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11136491 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project focuses on relapsing fever bacteria that live in ticks and can cause recurring fevers in people. Scientists will turn off individual parts of the bacteria's c-di-AMP signaling system and watch how those changes affect survival and behavior in tick-like and mammal-like conditions. The work uses lab-grown bacteria along with tick and mammal models to mimic the different environments the bacteria encounter during their lifecycle. Because c-di-AMP signaling is also found in Lyme disease bacteria, the findings could shed light on multiple tickborne infections.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with a history of tickborne relapsing fever or who live in areas where the disease occurs could be candidates for future related studies or sample donation.
Not a fit: People without exposure to tickborne relapsing fever or with unrelated health conditions are unlikely to directly benefit from this basic laboratory research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal bacterial vulnerabilities that lead to new ways to prevent or treat tickborne relapsing fever.
How similar studies have performed: Related studies of c-di-AMP and other cyclic dinucleotide signaling in Lyme disease bacteria have revealed important survival mechanisms, but applying these approaches to relapsing fever Borrelia is largely new.
Where this research is happening
Little Rock, United States
- Univ of Arkansas for Med Scis — Little Rock, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Blevins, Jon Scott — Univ of Arkansas for Med Scis
- Study coordinator: Blevins, Jon Scott
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.