Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) awarded the Regents of the University of Minnesota a $529,512 Project Grant under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855) effective February 20, 2026, with a completion date of January 31, 2031. The award supports biomedical research aimed at defining the intoxication mechanism of Clostridioides difficile transferase (CDT), a toxin produced by the bacterium responsible for hospital-acquired infectious diarrhea in the United States. Research activities will employ cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM), biochemical and biophysical assays, and cellular biology techniques to elucidate two primary objectives: the regulation and triggering of toxin assembly and the molecular mechanism underlying CDT delivery into host cells.

The research will generate detailed molecular-level understanding of CDT's contribution to C. difficile disease pathology, with particular focus on potential synergistic effects among the three bacterial toxins in severe infections. The University of Minnesota's research will produce a mechanistic framework for understanding CDT function during infection and is anticipated to identify new structural and functional targets for future CDT inhibitor development. This fundamental research advances scientific knowledge of infectious disease mechanisms and supports NIAID's mission to improve public health outcomes through enhanced understanding of immunologic and infectious disease challenges.