How the Lyme bacterium survives oxidative stress to cause infection
Official title: Redox Regulation of DksA-dependent Borrelia burgdorferi infectivity
Funded at Creighton University · NIH-11141142 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how the Lyme disease bacterium uses a regulator called DksA to survive oxidative and nitrosative stress, which could matter for people with or at risk for Lyme disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Creighton University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Omaha, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $430,347 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI167880-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11141142 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Although this laboratory-focused project does not enroll patients, people with current or prior Lyme disease and those frequently exposed to tick bites are the groups most likely to benefit from future clinical work informed by these findings.
✕Less likely to help
People seeking immediate new treatments or those with non-Lyme conditions are unlikely to see direct, short-term benefits from this basic science grant.
What this research studies
Researchers will study the Lyme bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi in the lab to see how the DksA protein and modifications of cysteine residues respond to reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. They will use bacterial genetics, biochemical assays, and infection models in ticks and mammals to link molecular changes to the bacteria's ability to infect. The team will measure how oxidative and nitrosative stress affect gene regulation, antioxidant defenses, and central metabolism in the bacteria. Results aim to reveal bacterial survival mechanisms that could become targets for future prevention or treatment strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify bacterial mechanisms to target for new treatments or ways to prevent Lyme disease.
How similar studies have gone: Prior laboratory studies have shown DksA controls gene expression and that reactive oxygen/nitrogen species modify bacterial proteins, but linking these modifications to infectivity is a newer and less-tested area.
Where this research is happening
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Creighton University
Omaha, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bourret, Travis J — Creighton University
- Study coordinator: Bourret, Travis 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.