Understanding how parasitic worms penetrate skin to infect hosts
Official title: Mechanisms of skin penetration in skin-penetrating parasitic nematodes
Funded at University of California Los Angeles · NIH-10986120 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain tiny worms that can infect people through the skin find their way into the body, and it's for anyone interested in understanding how these parasites work and how we might stop them.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | November 14, 2023 |
| Project end | October 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $613,556 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI175183-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10986120 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children under 11 years old who are at risk of infections from skin-penetrating nematodes.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not at risk of infection from these specific parasitic nematodes or who are over the age of 11 may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the mechanisms by which skin-penetrating parasitic nematodes, such as Strongyloides stercoralis, invade their hosts through the skin. The study will explore the behavioral, neural, and molecular processes involved in this infection pathway, utilizing advanced techniques like CRISPR/Cas9 for genetic manipulation and in vivo imaging to observe these processes in real-time. By conducting various assays, researchers aim to identify specific behaviors that enable these parasites to differentiate between host and non-host skin, which is crucial for their survival and infection.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatments and preventive measures against infections caused by these parasitic nematodes, particularly benefiting vulnerable populations.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific mechanisms of skin penetration by these nematodes are not extensively studied, similar research approaches have shown promise in understanding other parasitic infections.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hallem, Elissa Anyon — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Hallem, Elissa Anyon
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.