Siglec-E's role in clearing bacterial infections
Official title: The molecular mechanism of Siglec-E in bacterial clearance
Funded at University of Tennessee Health Sci Ctr · NIH-11319746 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are looking at how a protein called Siglec-E helps the immune system fight bacteria that can cause sepsis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Tennessee Health Sci Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Memphis, United States) |
| Project start | June 13, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $462,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI179632-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11319746 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This project is preclinical and uses mouse and laboratory samples, so there are no enrollment opportunities for patients with infections.
✕Less likely to help
People with current bacterial infections or sepsis are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this lab-based work.
What this research studies
This lab project studies how Siglec-E, a receptor on immune cells, affects the body's ability to clear Gram-negative bacteria that can cause sepsis. Scientists will use mouse infection models and laboratory tests to see how Siglec-E changes immune cell behavior and production of reactive oxygen species that kill bacteria. They will compare normal mice to ones lacking Siglec-E and measure survival, bacterial counts, and immune responses. The team aims to map the molecular steps by which Siglec-E helps or hinders clearance of different kinds of bacteria.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could point to new ways to boost bacterial clearance and reduce deaths from sepsis.
How similar studies have gone: Prior animal studies from the team showed that losing Siglec-E increased death after Gram-negative infection and linked Siglec-E to higher reactive oxygen species, so this builds on promising preclinical results.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Tennessee Health Sci Ctr
Memphis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Guoyun — University of Tennessee Health Sci Ctr
- Study coordinator: Chen, Guoyun
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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.