Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Virginia Commonwealth University received a $138,861 Project Grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855), awarded on May 7, 2026, with a completion date of April 30, 2028. The research investigates how Orientia tsutsugamushi, the bacterium responsible for scrub typhus, manipulates host cell pathways to evade immune responses and enable intracellular replication in endothelial cells. The project examines the interplay between circadian rhythm and hypoxic response mechanisms that the pathogen exploits to suppress innate immune defenses, with particular focus on the bacterial effector protein ANK13 and its role in modulating host gene expression and preventing DNA damage-induced apoptosis.

This research addresses a critical gap in understanding host-pathogen interactions in scrub typhus, a globally emerging infection with high fatality rates. The findings are intended to advance scientific knowledge of bacterial survival mechanisms and inform the development of therapeutic interventions targeting the circadian-hypoxic response axis as a novel approach to combating this intractable obligate intracellular pathogen. The project leverages VCU's established capacity in biomedical research and contributes to the broader NIAID mission of supporting investigator-initiated research to improve public health outcomes in infectious disease.