How tiny bacterial 'hairs' help germs stick and cause infections
Official title: Regulation and localization of flp pili: an under-investigated system (Year 4)
Funded at University of Mississippi · NIH-11221090 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project learns how tiny bacterial surface fibers called flp pili help germs stick to surfaces and sometimes cause infections in people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Mississippi NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (University, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2020 |
| Project end | September 1, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $471,486 |
| NIH project number | 2R15GM139127-02A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11221090 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with recurring oral or gum infections, or infections known to involve Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, might be among those who could benefit from future applications of this work.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions unrelated to bacterial attachment or those needing immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic laboratory research.
What this research studies
The research team uses a harmless model bacterium to mimic how flp pili are built and controlled, mapping the DNA switches that turn pilin genes on and off. They study how a protein called CtrA binds multiple sites in the pilin promoter to speed up, delay, or block pilus production. Experiments include altering promoter sites, measuring protein-DNA binding strength, and watching when pili appear on cells and how that changes susceptibility to bacterial viruses. This basic work aims to reveal mechanisms pathogens use to colonize places like the mouth or gut, which could guide future prevention or treatment approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could point to new ways to stop bacteria from attaching or to make them more vulnerable to therapies, reducing infections linked to these pili.
How similar studies have gone: Other studies of bacterial pili and transcriptional control have provided useful insights, but regulation of flp pili is relatively under-studied and this work is somewhat novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Mississippi
University, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Curtis, Patrick David — University of Mississippi
- Study coordinator: Curtis, Patrick David
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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.