Phage-driven gene swapping in the Lyme disease bacterium
Official title: Phage-mediated horizontal gene transfer in Borrelia burgdorferi
Funded at Montana State University - Bozeman · NIH-11367421 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to understand how a virus that infects Borrelia burgdorferi can move genes between strains, which could affect how Lyme disease behaves.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Montana State University - Bozeman NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bozeman, United States) |
| Project start | July 25, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $575,214 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI173045-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11367421 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with Lyme disease or people in Lyme-endemic areas are the focus of basic science that could influence future clinical approaches.
✕Less likely to help
Direct patient benefit is not guaranteed in the short term; this is foundational research.
What this research studies
This project studies a bacteriophage that infects the Lyme disease bacterium to see how it can transfer genes between strains while the bacteria cycle between ticks and people. Researchers will examine how the phage replicates, integrates into the bacterial genome, and potentially moves antigens from one strain to another. The work will involve lab experiments with Borrelia strains in models that mimic tick and host environments to observe transduction events. Understanding these mechanisms could shed light on how Lyme pathogen diversity arises and persists in nature.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could inform future diagnostics or therapies by revealing how Lyme bacteria swap genetic material.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research on phage-mediated gene transfer in Borrelia is limited, making this a novel investigation with potential high impact.
Where this research is happening
-
Montana State University - Bozeman
Bozeman, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Secor, Patrick R — Montana State University - Bozeman
- Study coordinator: Secor, Patrick R
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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.