How Treponema pallidum behaves in human infection (single-cell RNA clues)
Official title: Functional Genomics of Treponema pallidum during Human Infection
Funded at University of Hawaii at Manoa · NIH-11440668 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A small, targeted study will map how the syphilis-causing bacteria act inside human infections using new single-cell RNA methods.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Hawaii at Manoa NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Honolulu, United States) |
| Project start | September 14, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $72,750 |
| NIH project number | 1R03AI202738-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11440668 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with syphilis who have lesions from which Tp can be sampled under approved ethical guidelines.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals whose samples do not yield viable Tp data or who are not candidates for lesion sampling may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses a cutting-edge single-cell transcriptomics approach to study Treponema pallidum directly from human syphilis lesions, aiming to capture how the bacterium behaves during natural infection. Researchers will optimize and apply the technique to obtain high-quality RNA from very few bacterial cells present in clinical samples. The study focuses on Tp gene activity related to invasion, survival, and replication within the human host, beyond what traditional animal or in vitro models can reveal. Outcomes may illuminate key bacterial pathways and potential targets for new treatments or diagnostics. Participation would involve patients with syphilis contributing lesion samples under appropriate ethical approvals.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Findings could lead to better understanding of Tp behavior in humans and inform development of improved therapies or diagnostics for syphilis.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary single-cell approaches have shown promise in other hard-to-study pathogens, supporting potential success here.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Honolulu, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hoang, Tung T — University of Hawaii at Manoa
- Study coordinator: Hoang, Tung 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.