Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) awarded The Johns Hopkins University a $700,997 Project Grant effective April 1, 2026, through March 31, 2031, under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855). This research initiative will investigate immune homeostasis dysfunction induced by Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) infection, the causative agent of Lyme disease. The project addresses a significant gap in understanding how persistent Bb infections cause long-term immune suppression that persists even after pathogen clearance, with particular focus on the mechanism by which Bb-induced gastrointestinal barrier dysfunction, microbiota dysbiosis, and endotoxemia contribute to prolonged immune system dysfunction.

The research deliverables will include detailed characterization of how Bb infection-induced changes to gut barrier function affect immune system health and bacterial growth (Specific Aim 1) and assessment of how Bb-induced alterations to the gastrointestinal microbiome impact host immune function, including effects on endotoxemia, gut permeability, and autoreactive antibody production (Specific Aim 2). The project will employ fecal matter transfer experiments and comparative immunological analyses to separate infection-related effects from microbiota-related effects, generating scientific knowledge that advances understanding of persistent infection mechanisms and may inform therapeutic interventions for post-infectious immune dysfunction. The research will be conducted at Johns Hopkins University's Baltimore, Maryland facility.