Rickettsia entry: how these bacteria invade human cells via arthropod vectors
Official title: Rickettsia-host interface and multiple paths to invasion
Funded at University of Maryland Baltimore · NIH-11454495 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies how Rickettsia bacteria invade human cells, spread inside them, and interact with our immune system, with the goal of finding new ways to prevent and treat infections transmitted by ticks and other arthropods.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Maryland Baltimore NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | June 15, 2016 |
| Project end | August 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $672,702 |
| NIH project number | 2R01AI126853-11A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11454495 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals at risk for rickettsial diseases, including people in areas with endemically transmitting arthropods and those exposed to tick bites.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-rickettsial infections or those not exposed to arthropod-borne pathogens are unlikely to benefit directly.
What this research studies
If this research succeeds, it could uncover key steps by which rickettsiae enter human cells, survive, and trigger or evade immune responses. The work combines studying bacterial factors, host cell pathways, and how vector biology influences infection, all to map targets for therapies or vaccines. The project uses cell-based and molecular approaches to define how specific host receptors and signaling pathways enable invasion and replication. These insights could guide development of interventions to reduce severe disease from rickettsial infections. The research is grounded in observations from human disease and aims to translate findings into practical strategies for patients in the future.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to new therapies or preventive approaches against rickettsial diseases that affect thousands of people each year.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has identified key bacterial factors and host pathways; this program builds on those findings with a deeper mechanistic map showing potential for translational advances.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Maryland Baltimore
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rahman, Mohammed Sayeedur — University of Maryland Baltimore
- Study coordinator: Rahman, Mohammed Sayeedur
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.