Understanding how insect cells react to toxins that cause diseases like malaria and Zika
Genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screens in insect cells to characterize insecticidal toxins
This project uses a new genetic tool to find out how insect cells respond to toxins from bacteria, which could help us fight diseases spread by insects.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11092762 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Our bodies can get sick from diseases carried by insects, like malaria, Dengue, West Nile, Zika, and Lyme disease. To better understand these diseases, we are looking at how toxins from bacteria affect insect cells. We use a special genetic editing tool called CRISPR-Cas9 to change genes in insect cells and see which changes make them more or less vulnerable to these toxins. By identifying these key factors in insect cells, we hope to learn more about how insect-borne diseases work. This foundational knowledge could eventually lead to new ways to prevent or treat these illnesses.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational laboratory work does not involve direct patient participation.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate new treatments or direct clinical care will not find benefit from this early-stage laboratory research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could provide fundamental insights into how insect-borne diseases are transmitted and how they cause illness, potentially leading to new strategies for prevention or treatment.
How similar studies have performed: This project builds on recent success in developing a new CRISPR-Cas9 screening method for insect cells and preliminary findings identifying a potential insect receptor for a bacterial toxin.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Boston Children's Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dong, Min — Boston Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Dong, Min
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.