Understanding how host and microbe genetics plus the environment shape animal-microbe partnerships
Official title: Mechanisms of Intergenomic Epistasis and Environmental Context in Animal-Microbe Symbioses
Funded at Texas State University · NIH-11429358 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A NIH grant will explore how the genetics of an animal and its microbial partners, along with environmental factors, influence how beneficial these partnerships are.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Marcos, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $401,250 |
| NIH project number | 1R35GM166059-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11429358 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals and communities affected by microbiome-related health issues who stand to benefit from advances in microbiome science.
✕Less likely to help
People not directly impacted by microbiome-related health questions or without interest in microbiome biology may not benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will study a simple animal-microbe system, the Aiptasia anemone and its algal partner, to uncover the basic rules that govern how host and microbe genes interact and respond to environmental conditions. The work will use model organisms and controlled experiments to identify cellular and molecular mechanisms that determine when symbiosis helps the host. Insights could improve our understanding of microbiome effects on health and disease by revealing how context changes outcomes for the host.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could inform strategies to harness beneficial microbiomes for health and disease prevention.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work in simplified model systems has begun to reveal how intergenomic interactions influence outcomes, but this project aims to extend that to new environmental contexts.
Where this research is happening
-
Texas State University
San Marcos, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fuess, Lauren — Texas State University
- Study coordinator: Fuess, Lauren
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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.