How some bacteria grab iron and how cells tag proteins with arginine
Official title: Deciphering the Mechanisms of Pathogenic Ferrous Iron Acquisition and Eukaryotic Post-Translational Arginylation
Funded at University of Maryland Baltimore County · NIH-11177307 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research explores how disease-causing bacteria take up iron and how cells add arginine to proteins to help scientists find new ways to prevent infections and treat related diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Maryland Baltimore County NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2019 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $32,543 |
| NIH project number | 3R35GM133497-07S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11177307 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This is laboratory and model-based research conducted at a university and does not enroll patients, so there are no patient candidates for participation.
✕Less likely to help
People currently seeking treatment for infections should not expect direct or immediate clinical benefit from this basic science project.
What this research studies
Researchers will examine bacterial iron uptake systems (like Feo, Bqs, and membrane ferric reductases) using biochemical, structural, and spectroscopic lab techniques and by testing effects in living models. They will also study how eukaryotic cells add arginine to proteins (post-translational arginylation) to understand its role in cell biology and disease. The work combines in vitro experiments with in vivo models to reveal molecular mechanisms that underlie bacterial virulence and protein regulation. Findings are intended to point toward possible targets for new antimicrobial strategies or therapies that address diseases linked to protein arginylation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify new molecular targets that lead to antibiotics or therapies that better prevent or treat bacterial infections and diseases tied to protein modification.
How similar studies have gone: Previous basic research has mapped some bacterial iron pathways and protein-modifying enzymes, but translating those findings into therapies is still largely untested and remains an active research goal.
Where this research is happening
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University of Maryland Baltimore County
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Smith, Aaron T — University of Maryland Baltimore County
- Study coordinator: Smith, Aaron T
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.