Matching T cells to the bacteria they fight
Song - Proj 3
This project will match people's T cells to the bacteria those T cells recognize using large-scale sequencing data to learn about infections and immune history.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dartmouth College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hanover, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11109566 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will analyze large sets of RNA sequencing data to read both the bacteria present and each person's T-cell receptors, then search for patterns that link particular T cells to specific bacterial targets. They will develop faster computational methods to process vast numbers of samples and to work with multiple sequencing platforms, including long-read technologies. The team will generate needed datasets through core facilities and then apply their algorithms across these samples to map TCR–microbiome interactions. The work focuses on computer analysis of human-derived sequencing data to reveal immune responses rather than testing new drugs or therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who have had bacterial infections or who can provide blood, tissue, or existing sequencing data would be most useful for this effort.
Not a fit: Patients needing immediate clinical treatment or those without available or usable sequencing samples are unlikely to get direct medical benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help detect past or ongoing bacterial infections and support development of immune-based diagnostics or treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Previous smaller studies, including work by this team, have shown it's possible to extract TCR and microbiome signals from sequencing, but applying these methods at large scale and to long-read data is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
Hanover, United States
- Dartmouth College — Hanover, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Song, Li — Dartmouth College
- Study coordinator: Song, Li
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.