Understanding how bacteria remember and fight off viruses using CRISPR-Cas9
Generation of DNA memory by bacterial CRISPR-Cas9 systems
This research explores how bacteria, like those that cause meningitis, use their CRISPR-Cas9 system to create a memory of viruses and protect themselves from future infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11089740 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Our bodies are constantly battling infections, and even tiny bacteria have clever ways to defend themselves against viruses. This project focuses on the CRISPR-Cas9 system, which acts like an immune system for bacteria, allowing them to remember and destroy invading viruses. We want to understand the exact steps bacteria take to capture pieces of viral DNA as 'memory' and how they use this memory to guide their defenses. By studying a specific bacterium called Neisseria meningitidis, which can cause serious human diseases, we hope to uncover the secrets of this bacterial immunity and how viruses try to get around it.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research does not involve direct patient participation but could ultimately benefit patients with bacterial infections by informing future treatments.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment for existing conditions or those without bacterial infections would not directly benefit from this basic science research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding how bacteria defend themselves could lead to new ways to fight bacterial infections or develop advanced genetic tools.
How similar studies have performed: CRISPR-Cas9 technology is well-established for genetic engineering, but the specific mechanisms of how bacteria acquire viral memory are still being uncovered.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhang, Yan — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Zhang, Yan
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 below.