Understanding how a protein called MucR helps Brucella bacteria cause illness
Official title: Determining the molecular basis of gene silencing by MucR and defining its role in Brucella virulence
Funded at East Carolina University · NIH-11111292 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research aims to understand how a specific protein in Brucella bacteria helps them cause brucellosis, a serious infection in animals and people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | East Carolina University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Greenville, United States) |
| Project start | July 14, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $581,515 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI172822-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11111292 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational research does not involve direct patient participation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients will not receive direct benefit from participating in this laboratory-based research.
What this research studies
Brucellosis is a major health concern in many parts of the world, especially where it affects food animals. This project focuses on a protein called MucR, which is crucial for Brucella bacteria to cause disease, but we don't fully understand how it works. We believe MucR acts like a 'gene silencer,' turning off certain genes that help the bacteria survive and multiply. By studying how MucR silences these genes and how other proteins might 'counter-silence' it, we hope to learn more about how Brucella causes infection. This knowledge could lead to new ways to fight brucellosis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: A better understanding of how Brucella causes disease could lead to the development of new treatments or vaccines for brucellosis.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work by this laboratory has provided strong evidence for MucR's role, and similar gene-silencing mechanisms are known to be important in other bacterial infections.
Where this research is happening
-
East Carolina University
Greenville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Roop, Roy M — East Carolina University
- Study coordinator: Roop, Roy M
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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.