Understanding How Bacteria That Cause Lyme Disease and Syphilis Move
Structure-Function Relationships in the Spirochetal Flagellar Motor
This work explores how disease-causing bacteria, like those responsible for Lyme disease and syphilis, use their unique internal motors to move and spread in the body.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11089447 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Spirochetes are a special type of bacteria that cause serious human illnesses such as Lyme disease, syphilis, and leptospirosis. These bacteria have a unique way of moving that helps them travel through the body's tissues and cause infection. Our goal is to understand the tiny internal motors, called flagella, that power this movement. By learning how these motors are built and how they work, we hope to find new ways to stop these infections. This knowledge could lead to better treatments for these challenging diseases.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research is relevant to patients affected by spirochetal infections such as Lyme disease, syphilis, or leptospirosis.
Not a fit: Patients without infections caused by spirochete bacteria would not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this fundamental understanding could lead to new strategies for developing medicines that prevent or treat infections caused by spirochetes.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work in this area has made significant progress in characterizing the unique flagella of spirochetes and their role in bacterial movement.
Where this research is happening
New Haven, United States
- Yale University — New Haven, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liu, Jun — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Liu, Jun
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.