How the Lyme bacteria protein OspC controls which hosts get infected and how infection spreads
OspC and its role in defining host range and dissemination properties
Researchers are looking at a Lyme disease protein called OspC to learn how different versions help the bacteria infect animals and spread, with the goal of guiding better vaccines and tests for people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virginia Commonwealth University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richmond, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11137674 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, scientists will use modern genetic tools to alter and compare versions of the OspC protein from Lyme bacteria to see which parts are required for infection and spread. They will study how sequence differences change the bacteria's ability to infect different hosts and move through the body or between species. Work will include lab experiments and likely animal and tick models to observe infectivity and dissemination. The team plans to use these findings to inform development of vaccines and diagnostic antigens that could be used in humans.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with confirmed or suspected Lyme disease or those at high risk from tick exposure could be future candidates for clinical trials or studies based on these findings.
Not a fit: Patients with conditions unrelated to Lyme disease or infections not caused by Borrelia species would not directly benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to more effective Lyme vaccines and more accurate diagnostic tests for people.
How similar studies have performed: Past research on Borrelia outer surface proteins has shown promise for vaccines and diagnostics, but OspC's high sequence variability remains a challenging and only partially resolved target.
Where this research is happening
Richmond, United States
- Virginia Commonwealth University — Richmond, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Marconi, Richard T — Virginia Commonwealth University
- Study coordinator: Marconi, Richard 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 below.