Protist oxygen sensing in human disease
Official title: Protist Oxygen Sensing in Human Disease Protist Oxygen Sensing in Human Disease
Funded at Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ · NIH-11398023 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A scientist is studying how certain single-celled organisms detect oxygen and how this might relate to diseases in humans.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Blacksburg, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $610,219 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI169849-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11398023 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This research is not a direct patient trial; it focuses on protists and cellular pathways, not on enrolling patients.
✕Less likely to help
There are no current patient enrollment or direct benefit opportunities from this grant.
What this research studies
This project looks at how protists sense oxygen differently from humans and why that matters for disease. Researchers use the protists Dictyostelium and Toxoplasma to understand how oxygen changes affect protein modification and parasite growth. The work involves biochemical assays, genome analysis, and how these organisms regulate proteins under different oxygen and amino-acid conditions. Findings could reveal new angles on how oxygen availability influences infection and virulence in human-related conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding protist oxygen sensing could uncover new targets for treating infections and diseases where oxygen levels play a role.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work shows conserved modifications in protist proteins that affect virulence, suggesting the approach could yield meaningful insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ
Blacksburg, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Blader, Ira J — Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ
- Study coordinator: Blader, Ira J
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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.