How tuberculosis bacteria adapt and spread in people
Project 2 Bacterial determinants of host adaptation and evolutionary success
This project looks at how specific tuberculosis bacteria change to spread more easily among people and how human genes affect that process.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Worcester, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11173662 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will focus on a family of TB strains called G2G that rapidly became common in Lima, Peru, to identify the bacterial features behind their success. They will compare G2G strains to related Lineage 2 strains using bacterial genetics and laboratory experiments, and study how a human genetic variant in the FLOT1 gene changes immune responses to infection. The team will combine lab work with clinical samples and patient data to map how G2G infections progress and interact with host biology. Results are meant to reveal mechanisms of transmission and point to targets for prevention or treatment.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are people with active pulmonary tuberculosis—especially those in regions where the G2G strains circulate—who can provide clinical samples and health information.
Not a fit: People without tuberculosis or with unrelated medical conditions are unlikely to receive direct benefits from this research in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal bacterial and human factors that drive TB transmission and suggest targets for better prevention, diagnostics, or treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has linked bacterial strain differences and host genetics to TB outcomes, but this focused G2G bacterial–human interaction approach is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Worcester, United States
- Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester — Worcester, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sassetti, Christopher M — Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester
- Study coordinator: Sassetti, Christopher M
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.