Understanding how Coxiella manipulates fat in cells to grow
Official title: Coxiella manipulation of lipids in the intracellular niche
Funded at University of Nebraska Medical Center · NIH-11466124 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aimed at finding new ways to treat chronic Q fever by studying how the Coxiella bacteria alter fat storage and use inside human cells.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Nebraska Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Omaha, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2018 |
| Project end | June 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $502,216 |
| NIH project number | 2R01AI139176-07A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11466124 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with chronic Q fever or at risk for severe infection may benefit from future therapies arising from this research.
✕Less likely to help
Adults without Coxiella infection or those not affected by intracellular fat metabolism changes are unlikely to benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at how Coxiella burnetii, the cause of Q fever, lives inside our cells and uses host fats to replicate. It focuses on a bacterial protein called CbEPF1 that changes lipid droplets and creates contact points between the ER and lipid droplets. Researchers will map which human proteins interact with CbEPF1 and how these interactions affect fat metabolism inside infected cells. The work could point to new therapeutic targets to interrupt the bacteria’s fat-fueled growth inside cells.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could lead to new treatments that disrupt Coxiella’s use of host fats and shorten antibiotic therapy for chronic Q fever.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows that pathogens can rely on host lipid pathways; this project builds on those ideas in Coxiella-specific context.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gilk, Stacey D — University of Nebraska Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Gilk, Stacey D
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.