Tiny protein 'switches' in microbes and how they might help medicine
Official title: Inteins: Expanding Biological Roles and Biotechnological Applications
Funded at Murray State University · NIH-11123534 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at self-cutting proteins found in bacteria and fungi to learn how they react to stress and how their special chemistry could be used to develop new tools or treatments for infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Murray State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Murray, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2021 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $411,683 |
| NIH project number | 2R15GM143662-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11123534 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People affected by infections from microbes known to carry inteins—for example certain bacteria or the fungus Cryptococcus neoformans—or those willing to provide microbial samples for research would be most relevant.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-infectious conditions or infections caused by organisms that do not contain inteins are unlikely to see direct benefit from this work.
What this research studies
You would hear researchers describe inteins as small protein segments that splice themselves out of larger proteins and are common in many microbes, including some that cause infections. The team will use microbial samples, protein biochemistry, and molecular genetics to see when and why inteins splice in response to environmental stress. They will also test ways to harness intein chemistry to create precise laboratory tools or approaches that might one day be adapted against pathogens. The work is lab-based at Murray State University and focuses on understanding biological roles as well as creating practical biotech applications.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new microbial vulnerabilities or produce precise biochemical tools that speed development of diagnostics or treatments for infectious diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Intein-based methods have been successfully developed and used in protein engineering, but using inteins as disease-related targets or fully understanding their role in pathogen stress responses is still relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
Murray State University
Murray, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lennon, Christopher William — Murray State University
- Study coordinator: Lennon, Christopher William
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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.