How some bacteria 'remember' viruses by capturing DNA snippets
Spacer acquisition during the type III-A CRISPR-Cas immune response
This project looks at how certain bacteria grab short pieces of virus DNA to store a memory of infection, which might help guide new ways to fight bacterial infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rockefeller University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11290400 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will work with bacterial strains and the viruses that infect them (phages) in the laboratory to see how short virus DNA pieces, called spacers, get added to bacterial genomes. They will focus on type III-A CRISPR systems and the Csm6-linked response, using genetic experiments, molecular assays, and sequencing to follow what happens after infection. The team will test whether bacterial cells that go dormant during defense later recover once viral DNA is cleared and how spacers become fixed in a population. These experiments are done in controlled lab settings rather than with human volunteers.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Not applicable—this is a laboratory study of bacteria and bacteriophages and does not enroll patients.
Not a fit: People with active infections should not expect direct clinical benefit because the project is basic lab research rather than a patient treatment trial.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could inform new strategies that harness or target bacterial immune mechanisms to help prevent or treat infections like those caused by Staphylococcus aureus.
How similar studies have performed: CRISPR systems have been widely studied, but the specific question of spacer acquisition during type III-A responses and the role of Csm6 in dormancy and recovery is a newer area with limited prior data.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Rockefeller University — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Marraffini, Luciano a — Rockefeller University
- Study coordinator: Marraffini, Luciano 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 below.