Understanding how bacteria communicate and affect the immune system
Official title: Nucleic Acids and Pneumococcal Extracellular Vesicles: the Who, How and Why?
Funded at Carnegie-Mellon University · NIH-11110461 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a harmful germ called Streptococcus pneumoniae talks to other bacteria and our cells using tiny bubbles, which could help us understand how it causes infections and how we might treat them better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Carnegie-Mellon University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | June 7, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $227,833 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AI182784-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11110461 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals suffering from infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae or those at high risk for such infections.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with infections caused by other types of bacteria unrelated to Streptococcus pneumoniae may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how Streptococcus pneumoniae, a harmful bacterium, uses tiny vesicles to communicate with other bacteria and human cells. By studying these vesicles, the research aims to uncover how they carry genetic material that can influence bacterial behavior and contribute to disease. The project will explore the mechanisms behind this communication and how it affects the immune response, potentially leading to new therapeutic strategies. Patients may benefit from insights gained about bacterial infections and their treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapies targeting bacterial communication, improving treatment options for infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in targeting bacterial communication pathways, suggesting that this approach could yield significant insights and advancements.
Where this research is happening
-
Carnegie-Mellon University
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hiller, Natalia Luisa — Carnegie-Mellon University
- Study coordinator: Hiller, Natalia Luisa
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Digital biomarkers to guide personalized rehab after ACL injury
Aims to use wearable sensors and phone videos to predict early osteoarthritis risk after ACL surgery so rehabilitation can be tailored to each patient.
-
Understanding early lung scarring in 3-D tissue environments
A new NIH grant aims to map where and how early lung scarring starts in three-dimensional tissue, with the goal of guiding better treatments for people with fibrotic lung diseases.
-
Understanding how iron- and 2-oxoglutarate–dependent enzymes help make halogenated compounds
This NIH grant supports research to uncover how a family of iron enzymes adds chlorine or other halogen atoms to biological molecules, which could lead to new ways to make safer, more effective cancer-fighting drugs.
-
How the brain plans and sequences everyday actions
This project looks at how connected brain areas plan and carry out multi-step movements so findings can help people with movement problems like Parkinson's disease.
-
ALT Cancer Telomere SUMOylation: Targeting a Achilles’ heel in cancer cells
A bright, patient-friendly look at a research project aiming to disrupt a cancer-specific process at the ends of chromosomes to slow or stop tumor growth.
-
Role of the ventral visual pathway in everyday actions
This grant studies how brain regions that process what we see help people perform daily tasks like gripping a cup or using utensils, especially after brain injury.
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.