Understanding how bacteria that cause Lyme disease share genes
Official title: Phage-mediated horizontal gene transfer in Borrelia burgdorferi
Funded at Montana State University - Bozeman · NIH-11144309 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work explores how a virus living inside the Lyme disease bacteria helps them swap genetic material, which might explain how the bacteria survive and reinfect people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Montana State University - Bozeman NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bozeman, United States) |
| Project start | July 25, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $574,303 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI173045-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11144309 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational research does not directly involve patients, but future clinical applications would target individuals at risk for or suffering from Lyme disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients currently seeking direct treatment for Lyme disease would not receive immediate benefit from this basic science research.
What this research studies
Lyme disease is caused by a type of bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi, which are themselves infected by a virus called ϕBB-1. This virus can either make more copies of itself and burst out of the bacteria, or it can insert its genetic material into the bacteria's own DNA. We believe that this process allows the Lyme disease bacteria to share important genes, especially those that help them hide from the body's immune system. By understanding how this gene sharing works, we hope to learn more about how Lyme disease persists and spreads.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to prevent or treat Lyme disease by targeting how the bacteria adapt and survive.
How similar studies have gone: While the role of phages in bacterial gene transfer is known in other bacteria, very few studies have specifically looked at this process in Borrelia burgdorferi.
Where this research is happening
-
Montana State University - Bozeman
Bozeman, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Secor, Patrick R — Montana State University - Bozeman
- Study coordinator: Secor, Patrick R
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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.