Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) awarded The Ohio State University $775,022 under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855) for a Project Grant effective June 1, 2026, through May 31, 2031. This research initiative investigates plasma membrane repair mechanisms in animal cells, with particular focus on understanding how cells recover from damage inflicted by bacterial pore-forming toxins known as cholesterol-dependent cytolysins (CDCs) produced by gram-positive pathogens including Listeria monocytogenes, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Bacillus anthracis. The research will assess the role of septins—multifunctional cytoskeletal proteins that regulate the plasma membrane—across multiple cell lines and primary cell types including epithelial cells, macrophages, and cardiomyocytes in response to various forms of plasma membrane injury caused by mechanical disruption and CDC toxins.

The award supports fundamental and translational research aimed at elucidating the downstream molecular mechanisms responsible for cellular membrane repair processes, building upon established knowledge that calcium influx through membrane disruptions serves as a key repair signal. This research has direct relevance to understanding infections and diseases characterized by excessive cell injury or impaired membrane repair mechanisms. The outcomes of this project are intended to advance scientific knowledge regarding cellular defense mechanisms against infectious pathogens and inform therapeutic approaches to conditions involving aberrant plasma membrane integrity.