How Streptococcus pyogenes Bacteria Evade Immune Cells
Macrophage Immunosuppression by Quorum-Induced Streptococcus pyogenes
This project looks at how Group A Strep bacteria can trick our immune cells to avoid being destroyed, helping us understand how these infections persist.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11138545 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project explores how Group A Strep bacteria, which cause many human infections, use a special communication system to change their surface. These changes allow the bacteria to hide from our immune system's scavenger cells, called macrophages. When the bacteria are 'talking' (QS-ON), they make macrophages less active, helping the infection to persist. Understanding this process could lead to new ways to fight these common bacterial infections.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research is not directly recruiting patients but focuses on understanding the bacteria that cause infections in many people.
Not a fit: Patients not currently experiencing or at risk for Streptococcus pyogenes infections would not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments that prevent Group A Strep from weakening the immune system, making infections easier to clear.
How similar studies have performed: Preliminary findings and published data suggest that bacterial communication systems can indeed alter immune responses, providing a basis for this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, UNITED STATES
- University of Illinois at Chicago — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Federle, Michael J — University of Illinois at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Federle, Michael J
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.