How TB Bacteria Acquire Iron from Heme in Our Bodies
Official title: Molecular mechanisms of heme iron acquisition by Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Funded at Oklahoma State University Stillwater · NIH-11349557 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant would study how the tuberculosis germ gets iron from heme and hemoglobin inside the human body, which is important for its growth and disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oklahoma State University Stillwater NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stillwater, United States) |
| Project start | June 9, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $553,278 |
| NIH project number | 1R15AI199541-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11349557 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be individuals with TB or healthy volunteers for future related studies, depending on the specific infection models used in later stages.
✕Less likely to help
People not involved in TB research or those not interacting with iron-uptake studies may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
The project aims to understand the ways Mycobacterium tuberculosis grabs iron from heme and hemoglobin inside people, focusing on how the bacterium uses two pathways, including proteins on its outer membrane and its interaction with albumin. The researchers will study virulence in infection models and identify key heme-uptake mechanisms that help Mtb survive in macrophages and blood-rich environments. By uncovering these pathways, they hope to reveal targets that could be blocked to reduce TB disease. This could pave the way for new therapies that limit the bacteria’s access to essential iron. The work is grounded in basic science but has clear implications for understanding and potentially alleviating TB in patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could lead to new strategies to starve Mtb of iron, potentially reducing its ability to cause disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has identified multiple iron-uptake pathways in Mtb, suggesting a plausible path to novel interventions but still needing confirmation in human-relevant models.
Where this research is happening
-
Oklahoma State University Stillwater
Stillwater, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mitra, Avishek — Oklahoma State University Stillwater
- Study coordinator: Mitra, Avishek
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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.