Redox regulation of Borrelia burgdorferi infectivity
Official title: Redox Regulation of DksA-dependent Borrelia burgdorferi infectivity
Funded at Creighton University · NIH-11380613 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Scientists are studying how the Lyme disease bacteria use redox signals to become infectious, with the aim of understanding how to prevent infection.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Creighton University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Omaha, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $436,962 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI167880-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11380613 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with or at risk for Lyme disease in whom future diagnostics or vaccines may be developed from understanding bacterial infectivity mechanisms.
✕Less likely to help
People not exposed to Lyme disease or without tick exposure may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
Borrelia burgdorferi must endure stress inside ticks and mammalian hosts. The project investigates how reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, plus environmental cues like pH and temperature, influence key regulatory proteins and virulence genes. By focusing on the DksA regulator and how cysteine residues in proteins respond to oxidative stress, the study seeks to link molecular changes to infectivity. This work could reveal new targets for therapies or vaccines to block Lyme disease transmission. It is conducted at Creighton University under the leadership of Dr. Travis J. Bourret.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could guide new strategies to prevent or reduce Lyme disease by disrupting how the bacteria adapt to host environments.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown that redox biology influences bacterial virulence, but the exact role of DksA and thiol modifications in B. burgdorferi infectivity is still being clarified.
Where this research is happening
-
Creighton University
Omaha, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bourret, Travis J — Creighton University
- Study coordinator: Bourret, Travis J
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.