Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The University of California, San Diego received a $449,578 Project Grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855), effective February 1, 2026 through January 31, 2031. This award supports investigator-initiated biomedical research focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms of lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) in bacterial pathogenesis and immunity. Specifically, the research program investigates the role of chitin-binding protein D (CBPD), a highly conserved LPMO of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, in bacterial virulence and host-pathogen interactions, with the ultimate objective of developing CBPD as a protective antigen against PA infections.

The project addresses critical knowledge gaps regarding the precise molecular actions of LPMOs, identifies host binding partners for CBPD, and assesses the impact of enzymatic activity on host-pathogen interactions. Research activities conducted at the La Jolla, California facility will involve experimental investigations building upon prior published findings demonstrating that CBPD contributes to bacterial resistance against host complement defenses and that immunization with CBPD provides protective immunity in murine infection models. This research directly supports NIAID's mission to advance scientific knowledge of infectious disease mechanisms and develop therapeutic interventions to improve health outcomes.