Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) awarded a $744,328 Project Grant to the University of California, Davis on February 13, 2026, under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855). The award, with an ultimate completion date of January 31, 2031, supports biomedical research investigating the pathogenic mechanisms of Entamoeba histolytica, the parasitic amoeba responsible for amoebiasis in humans. The research specifically examines trogocytosis—a cell-killing mechanism whereby amoebae consume fragments of human cells—and how this process enables the parasite to evade immune detection by acquiring and displaying human cell membrane proteins that provide complement protection.

The UC Davis research team will employ advanced investigative methodologies including imaging flow cytometry, host and amoeba mutant analysis, and multiple host cell types to dissect the contribution of trogocytosis to immune evasion in vitro. The research will be extended to in vivo pathogenesis using a mouse model of amoebiasis, with findings anticipated to advance understanding of E. histolytica dissemination mechanisms and contribute to broader knowledge of trogocytosis as an emerging immunological evasion strategy across multiple pathogens. This work addresses a critical gap in infectious disease research, as E. histolytica remains dramatically understudied despite its significant public health impact.