New alpha-helical proteins that control nitrogen use and virulence in harmful gut bacteria
Official title: A new family of alpha-helical peptides regulating nitrogen metabolism and virulence in pathogenic Enterobacteria
Funded at University of Virginia · NIH-11464211 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A small family of alpha-helical proteins found in diarrheagenic bacteria may regulate nitrogen metabolism and help these bacteria cause disease in the gut.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Virginia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charlottesville, United States) |
| Project start | August 3, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $201,875 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AI193550-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11464211 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children and adults at risk of diarrheagenic bacterial infections, especially those with intestinal barrier dysfunction or persistent colonization by EAEC or related pathogens.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy individuals without exposure to the bacteria are less likely to benefit directly.
What this research studies
Researchers will study these alpha-helical proteins using human intestinal organoids along with infection and mouse models to understand how they influence nitrogen metabolism and bacterial virulence. They will look at how these proteins are controlled by a virulence regulator and how they affect epithelial barrier function and gut health. The project aims to map how this protein family turns on genes related to ammonia transport and amino acid usage, which could reveal new targets to prevent infections by EAEC, Salmonella, and Shigella. The work combines human-relevant models with animal studies to translate basic findings toward preventing disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could identify new ways to block bacterial virulence related to nitrogen metabolism, potentially reducing diarrheal illness in children.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show that bacterial regulatory proteins can influence metabolism and virulence, though this exact protein family is new and its full role is still being explored.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Santiago, Araceli Elvira — University of Virginia
- Study coordinator: Santiago, Araceli Elvira
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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.