How typhoid Salmonella interacts with the immune system
Salmonella Host interactions
This project looks at how the typhoid-causing Salmonella uses a protective capsule and a secretion system to avoid immune cells and spread in people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California at Davis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Davis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11233300 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research uses bacterial strains and mouse models to mimic typhoid infection and study two bacterial tools—the Vi capsule and the T3SS-2 secretion system—that help the bacteria avoid immune cells and persist in tissues. If you have had typhoid fever, the work aims to explain how the bug moves from the gut into other body tissues by escaping neutrophils and surviving inside macrophages. The team will track immune cell interactions like neutrophil phagocytosis and cycles of efferocytosis to find steps where new treatments or vaccines could block bacterial spread.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Although this lab-focused grant does not directly enroll patients, people who have had typhoid fever or are at high risk could be candidates for future related clinical studies.
Not a fit: People with unrelated infections or those unlikely to be exposed to typhoid (for example, residents of non-endemic areas) are unlikely to benefit directly from this specific basic-science work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to new vaccines or therapies that prevent Salmonella from spreading and reduce severe typhoid disease.
How similar studies have performed: Mouse-model studies of Salmonella have clarified some virulence mechanisms before, but applying those findings to the strictly human-adapted S. Typhi remains an active and developing area.
Where this research is happening
Davis, United States
- University of California at Davis — Davis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Baumler, Andreas J — University of California at Davis
- Study coordinator: Baumler, Andreas 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 below.