Scalable platform to map RNA viruses that infect bacteria
Official title: Discovery of Prokaryotic RNA Virus-Host Pairs Through a Scalable Reverse-Genetics Platform
Funded at University of Rochester · NIH-11456935 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new project will build a rapid, inside-bacteria system to identify which RNA viruses and circular RNA elements can infect specific bacteria found in the human microbiome, helping us understand their roles in health and disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $291,958 |
| NIH project number | 1R03DE036202-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11456935 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable (preclinical/basic science project conducted in bacterial systems).
✕Less likely to help
No direct patient involvement in this stage.
What this research studies
This project creates reverse-genetics tools to reconstruct circular and linear RNA genomes directly in bacterial cells. It will use ribozyme-based systems and large-scale gene synthesis to test thousands of RNA elements across bacteria commonly found in humans. The goal is to identify which RNA elements can replicate and which bacterial hosts they prefer, turning mysterious sequences into usable models. The resulting platforms will enable scientists to study how these RNA agents affect bacterial behavior and human health. The work is designed to be scalable and adaptable to many bacterial species.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could clarify how bacterial RNA viruses influence the microbiome and potentially inform therapies that target harmful RNA elements in humans.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary methods have shown that similar reverse-genetics approaches can reconstruct RNA genomes in cells, but applying them to diverse human-associated bacteria is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Rochester
Rochester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Varble, Andrew — University of Rochester
- Study coordinator: Varble, Andrew
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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.