Understanding how Neisseria gonorrhoeae interacts with the host to acquire nutrients and how that could inform new therapies
Official title: Investigating the sweet side of gonorrhea to understand nutrient acquisition and sugar-based interactions with the host
Funded at Georgia State University · NIH-11416653 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project studies a human pathogen, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, to find ways to block its nutrient uptake and possibly guide better treatments or vaccines for gonorrhea.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Georgia State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $457,267 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI184894-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11416653 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals infected with Neisseria gonorrhoeae or samples derived from human infections relevant to Ngo biology.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without Ngo infection or those not contributing biological samples would not directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
Gonorrhea is caused by a human-specific bacterium that has become resistant to many drugs. The research focuses on the outer membrane transport proteins the bacteria use to obtain nutrients from human hosts, which are essential for infection. Scientists will examine transporter-glycan interactions and how these pathways might be targeted to starve the bacteria or disrupt its growth. The study combines molecular and host-interaction approaches to uncover new therapeutic angles against Ngo.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to novel drug targets or vaccine ideas that hinder Ngo growth and improve treatment options for gonorrhea.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown that targeting nutrient transport systems can impair Ngo growth, with potential for new therapies under development.
Where this research is happening
-
Georgia State University
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cornelissen, Cynthia N — Georgia State University
- Study coordinator: Cornelissen, Cynthia N
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.