ZBP1's role in how the body handles LPS and bacterial infection
Official title: Regulation of LPS-responses by ZBP1
Funded at Augusta University · NIH-11519715 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant looks at how ZBP1 helps cells respond to LPS and protect against bacterial infection, focusing on a new pathway that can trigger inflammation and cell death.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Augusta University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Augusta, United States) |
| Project start | June 16, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $321,551 |
| NIH project number | 7R01AI167245-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11519715 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with bacterial infections or inflammatory responses where ZBP1-related pathways might be involved could be relevant for future trials or sample donation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose infections do not engage ZBP1 pathways or TRIF-dependent signaling may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
Researchers will explore how ZBP1 drives a specific inflammatory pathway in immune cells when exposed to LPS, including how this pathway involves TRIF and Caspase-8 leading to pyroptosis. They will study the formation of the TRIFosome complex and how ZBP1 helps move RIPK1 to TRIF, shaping the inflammatory response. The goal is to understand whether ZBP1-mediated signaling improves protection against bacteria like Yersinia in vivo. The project builds on existing data and aims to test these mechanisms in models that mimic human infection. Overall, the work could reveal new targets to modulate harmful inflammation during bacterial insults while preserving host defense.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify new ways to prevent excessive inflammation during bacterial infections and improve strategies to protect patients.
How similar studies have gone: Early data suggest ZBP1 can influence inflammatory pathways in response to LPS, but in vivo confirmation is needed and could lead to novel therapeutic angles.
Where this research is happening
-
Augusta University
Augusta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Poltorak, Alexander — Augusta University
- Study coordinator: Poltorak, Alexander
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.