pH-driven switching of ESX-1 substrates in tuberculosis-related bacteria
Official title: pH-Dependent Switching of ESX-1 Substrates in Mycobacterial Pathogenesis
Funded at University of Notre Dame · NIH-11391282 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how the ESX-1 system in pathogenic mycobacteria changes what it secretes when the bacteria encounter different acidity levels, to understand how the bacteria escape macrophages.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Notre Dame NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Notre Dame, United States) |
| Project start | August 12, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $737,391 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI188782-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11391282 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be conditions related to mycobacterial infections or patients who could benefit from future therapies targeting ESX-1 pathways.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy individuals or those without exposure to mycobacterial pathogens are unlikely to benefit directly.
What this research studies
This project uses a well-established non-tubercular mycobacterial model to explore how changing pH inside immune cells affects the ESX-1 secretion system and phagosome lysis. By testing secretion patterns in acidic versus neutral conditions, the team aims to map how ESX-1 substrates shift and contribute to infection. Insights from these studies could reveal new targets to prevent mycobacterial infections and inform future therapies. The work involves in vitro experiments and infection models to connect molecular mechanisms with macrophage host states.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Gaining knowledge about how mycobacteria escape immune defenses could guide new strategies to prevent or treat tuberculosis-related infections.
How similar studies have gone: Similar studies using mycobacterial models have advanced understanding of ESX-1 and phagosome interactions, with promising mechanistic insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Champion, Patricia a — University of Notre Dame
- Study coordinator: Champion, Patricia a
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.