Regulatory network of Lyme disease bacteria
Official title: Regulatory Network of the Lyme Disease Pathogen
Funded at Indiana University Indianapolis · NIH-11345865 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study to understand how the Lyme disease bacteria controls its genes as it moves between ticks and mammals, which could lead to better prevention and treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Indiana University Indianapolis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Indianapolis, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2009 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $461,972 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI083640-14 |
| Project ID | NIH-11345865 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with Lyme disease or those at risk in areas where Borrelia burgdorferi is common might benefit from advances stemming from this research.
✕Less likely to help
People not exposed to Lyme disease or those not connected to this pathogen’s research may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
Lyme disease is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, and this project looks at how the bacterium carefully turns genes on and off during its life cycle in ticks and mammals. The team focuses on a key regulatory pathway called RpoS and how it is controlled, including an investigation into whether BosR helps stabilize rpoS messages rather than acting as a traditional activator. The research combines lab experiments to test the proposed mechanism, aiming to map how these regulatory interactions influence the expression of antigens and virulence factors. Findings could reveal new targets to block infection or improve vaccines and diagnostics for Lyme disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work may reveal new targets to prevent infection, improve diagnostics, and guide future therapies for Lyme disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has established components of the RpoS pathway; this project explores a novel RNA-binding role for BosR, which could be a new, unproven mechanism.
Where this research is happening
-
Indiana University Indianapolis
Indianapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yang, X. Frank — Indiana University Indianapolis
- Study coordinator: Yang, X. Frank
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding why some people have ongoing symptoms after Lyme disease
A long-term study follows people diagnosed with acute Lyme disease to see who develops persistent symptoms and why, with care from a team of Lyme experts.
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CSF Protein Map in Post-Treatment Lyme Disease
A short study to map proteins in spinal fluid of people who had Lyme disease and still feel sick after standard treatment, to understand what’s going on.
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Lyme disease vaccine research aimed at preventing infection
Researchers are developing a Lyme disease vaccine by studying how the immune system responds to Borrelia burgdorferi and testing vaccine approaches to prevent illness.
-
Lyme disease brain health: tracking brain signals and blood clues after treatment
This study follows people with early Lyme disease and compares them to healthy volunteers to see how the brain and blood markers change over a year after starting antibiotics.
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Lyme disease symptoms lingering after treatment may be driven by special bacterial fragments
A human-friendly look at a study exploring why some Lyme patients keep symptoms after antibiotics and whether tiny fragments from the bacteria are to blame.
-
Understanding Lyme disease immune signals to predict recovery after antibiotics
A research project at MIT aims to find immune biomarkers that tell which Lyme patients will recover after standard antibiotics and who might have lasting symptoms.
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.