How some bacterial toxins trigger inflammation
Bacterial Cholesterol-Dependent Cytolysins in Inflammasome Activation
This project looks at whether toxins from bacteria such as those that cause anthrax change cell parts and start strong inflammatory reactions that can harm patients with serious bacterial infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11263707 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will study a family of bacterial toxins called cholesterol-dependent cytolysins to see how they rearrange parts of infected cells and activate the NLRP3 inflammasome, a key inflammatory pathway. They will group toxins by whether they directly remodel cell organelles and use live-cell imaging, mass spectrometry, and infection models to find the specific toxin motifs and host factors involved. The team will also examine how some toxins avoid triggering the inflammasome by blocking organelle remodeling. Results are intended to point toward targets for therapies that limit harmful inflammation during severe bacterial infections.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with serious or systemic bacterial infections (for example anthrax or toxin-producing Clostridium infections) could eventually be candidates for related trials or to donate samples for this research.
Not a fit: Patients with mild, non-bacterial, or purely chronic non-infectious conditions are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify new ways to reduce damaging inflammation during serious bacterial infections, potentially improving outcomes for patients.
How similar studies have performed: Prior laboratory and animal studies have shown that blocking NLRP3 can alter infection outcomes, but applying these insights broadly across many bacterial toxins and defining the exact mechanisms is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, United States
- University of Chicago — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Jueqi — University of Chicago
- Study coordinator: Chen, Jueqi
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.