Understanding how bacteria grab iron and how cells modify proteins to affect disease
Official title: Deciphering the Mechanisms of Pathogenic Ferrous Iron Acquisition and Eukaryotic Post-Translational Arginylation
Funded at University of Maryland Baltimore County · NIH-11373505 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to uncover how bacteria obtain iron and how a specific protein modification in cells affects health and disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Maryland Baltimore County NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2019 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $397,734 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM133497-08 |
| Project ID | NIH-11373505 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to patient participation in this grant as described; focuses on mechanistic biology in lab and animal models.
✕Less likely to help
No direct patient involvement or recruitment described.
What this research studies
This grant studies two important biological systems that influence health: how bacteria generate and acquire iron for growth and infection, and how a cellular process called arginylation modifies proteins after they are made. Researchers will use structural, spectroscopic, and biochemical methods to understand these mechanisms in lab dishes and in living systems, with a focus on how they relate to human diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular conditions. The goal is to lay groundwork that could lead to new ways to prevent or treat infections and disease by targeting these iron-handling pathways and post-translational changes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new targets to prevent bacterial infections and to control disease-related protein modifications.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have begun to reveal how these iron-handling systems work, suggesting potential for translational impact in infection and disease.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Maryland Baltimore County
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Smith, Aaron T — University of Maryland Baltimore County
- Study coordinator: Smith, Aaron T
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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.