How Salmonella's protein-injection machine works
Structure and Function of the Salmonella type III secretion sorting platform
Researchers are mapping how Salmonella and related bacteria inject proteins into human cells to help find new ways to stop these infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11258889 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project looks at the bacterial 'injectisome'—a needle-like machine Salmonella uses to send proteins into host cells. Scientists will combine bacterial genetics and biochemistry with high-resolution imaging methods like super-resolution microscopy, cryo-electron microscopy, and cryo-electron tomography to visualize the sorting platform. They will test how the sorting platform recognizes and loads client proteins and link structural images to functional lab assays. Because this machinery is conserved across many gram-negative pathogens, the findings could apply beyond Salmonella.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who have had Salmonella or other serious gram-negative bacterial infections would be most likely to follow and benefit from this research as it could lead to future treatments.
Not a fit: Patients with viral illnesses or infections caused by bacteria that do not use type III secretion systems are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify new targets to block bacterial infection and lead to therapies that prevent Salmonella and similar pathogens from harming human cells.
How similar studies have performed: Prior structural studies of type III secretion system components have been informative, but the specific mechanism by which the sorting platform selects client proteins remains largely untested.
Where this research is happening
New Haven, United States
- Yale University — New Haven, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lara-Tejero, Maria — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Lara-Tejero, 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.