Understanding how tuberculosis bacteria transport nutrients
Official title: Transporter function of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis PE/PPE proteins
Funded at Seattle Children's Hospital · NIH-11030304 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at special proteins in the tuberculosis bacteria that help it move nutrients through its tough outer layer, which is important for its survival, and the goal is to learn more about how these proteins work so we can find better ways to treat tuberculosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Seattle Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | February 6, 2024 |
| Project end | December 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $857,231 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI180452-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11030304 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with tuberculosis or those at high risk of developing the disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-tuberculosis related infections or conditions unrelated to Mycobacterium tuberculosis may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the unique proteins found in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which are believed to play a crucial role in how the bacteria transport nutrients across their thick cell wall. The study aims to uncover the mechanisms behind this nutrient transport, which is vital for the bacteria's survival and pathogenicity. By using advanced biochemical and genetic techniques, researchers will explore the functions of these proteins, potentially leading to new insights into tuberculosis biology. This could ultimately inform the development of more effective treatments for tuberculosis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapeutic strategies for treating tuberculosis, improving outcomes for patients infected with this disease.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific focus on PE/PPE proteins in Mycobacterium tuberculosis is relatively novel, similar approaches in studying bacterial transport mechanisms have shown promise in other contexts.
Where this research is happening
-
Seattle Children's Hospital
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Grundner, Christoph — Seattle Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Grundner, Christoph
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Coronary disease and immune activation in people with HIV and tuberculosis coinfection
This research looks at how having HIV and latent tuberculosis together might raise the risk of heart disease, and what immune changes are involved.
-
Pulmonary rehabilitation to reduce breathing problems after tuberculosis
A program of guided exercise and breathing training to help adults who have recovered from TB breathe better and feel healthier.
-
Pulmonary rehab to reduce breathing troubles after TB
A program of pulmonary rehabilitation is being studied to help adults who have completed TB treatment avoid ongoing lung problems and improve daily breathing.
-
Air pollution and tuberculosis spread in Kampala, Uganda
This project looks at whether dirty air from PM2.5 particles makes tuberculosis more likely to spread within urban slum households in Kampala, Uganda.
-
Air pollution and TB spread in Ugandan urban slums
This project explores whether exposure to air pollution makes tuberculosis more likely to spread within households in a crowded Ugandan slum.
-
Air pollution and TB transmission in Kampala’s urban slums
This project looks at whether air pollution from PM2.5 makes tuberculosis spread more easily from infected people to their neighbors in urban slums of Kampala, Uganda.
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.