Investigating how Mycobacterium tuberculosis uses riboflavin for growth
Official title: Riboflavin biosynthesis and utilization in Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Funded at State University New York Stony Brook · NIH-11012313 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how riboflavin, a type of vitamin B2, helps the tuberculosis bacteria grow and survive, with the goal of finding new ways to create vaccines that can protect people from the disease without making them sick.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University New York Stony Brook NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stony Brook, United States) |
| Project start | January 17, 2024 |
| Project end | November 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $193,394 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AI183259-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11012313 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals at risk of tuberculosis infection or those with active tuberculosis.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not at risk for tuberculosis or those who have already been effectively treated may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding the role of riboflavin (vitamin B2) in the growth and survival of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria responsible for tuberculosis. By identifying essential genes involved in riboflavin biosynthesis and uptake, the researchers aim to explore new strategies for developing vaccines that can induce protective immunity without causing disease. The study will involve testing the bacteria's ability to grow when riboflavin production is disrupted and determining if riboflavin is a limiting factor in the host environment. This approach could lead to innovative treatments and preventive measures against tuberculosis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the development of new vaccines or treatments that effectively combat tuberculosis.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in targeting metabolic pathways in bacteria for vaccine development, indicating that this approach could be viable.
Where this research is happening
-
State University New York Stony Brook
Stony Brook, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Seeliger, Jessica Chuang — State University New York Stony Brook
- Study coordinator: Seeliger, Jessica Chuang
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Coronary disease and immune activation in people with HIV and tuberculosis coinfection
This research looks at how having HIV and latent tuberculosis together might raise the risk of heart disease, and what immune changes are involved.
-
Pulmonary rehabilitation to reduce breathing problems after tuberculosis
A program of guided exercise and breathing training to help adults who have recovered from TB breathe better and feel healthier.
-
Pulmonary rehab to reduce breathing troubles after TB
A program of pulmonary rehabilitation is being studied to help adults who have completed TB treatment avoid ongoing lung problems and improve daily breathing.
-
Air pollution and tuberculosis spread in Kampala, Uganda
This project looks at whether dirty air from PM2.5 particles makes tuberculosis more likely to spread within urban slum households in Kampala, Uganda.
-
Air pollution and TB spread in Ugandan urban slums
This project explores whether exposure to air pollution makes tuberculosis more likely to spread within households in a crowded Ugandan slum.
-
Air pollution and TB transmission in Kampala’s urban slums
This project looks at whether air pollution from PM2.5 makes tuberculosis spread more easily from infected people to their neighbors in urban slums of Kampala, Uganda.
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.