Muscle’s role in fighting infection and managing energy
Official title: Muscle-dependent integration of innate immunity and metabolism dictates infection susceptibility
Funded at Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr · NIH-11388957 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies how muscle tissue helps control infection by coordinating energy use and the immune response, aiming to reveal new ways muscles influence susceptibility to bacterial infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (College Station, United States) |
| Project start | June 12, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $467,354 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AI189732-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11388957 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals or patient groups with bacterial infections or metabolic conditions that affect muscle or adipose tissue may benefit from future translational insights.
✕Less likely to help
The direct study uses a fruit fly model, so there may be no immediate benefit for patients during the current project.
What this research studies
Researchers will explore how muscle balances energy metabolism with innate immune signals to influence infection risk, using Drosophila as a model to uncover mechanisms that may apply to humans. The project will examine how muscle-driven energy management affects immune responses locally in muscle and systemically in fat tissue during bacterial infection. By identifying the key pathways that link energy balance to immunity, it could point to new targets for preventing or mitigating infections in people. The work combines genetic tools, metabolic measurements, and infection studies to build a holistic picture of muscle’s active role in host defense.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: A deeper understanding of muscle-immune interactions could lead to strategies that reduce infection risk and improve metabolic-health-related resilience in patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work in model organisms suggests muscle can influence immune responses and energy metabolism, supporting the potential for meaningful findings.
Where this research is happening
-
Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr
College Station, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Karpac, Jason — Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr
- Study coordinator: Karpac, Jason
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.