Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases awarded Yale University a Project Grant totaling $710,638 (Award Date: May 1, 2026; Completion Date: April 30, 2031) under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855) to conduct fundamental research on sheathed flagellar structures in Helicobacter pylori. The research will employ cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) and cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) combined with biochemical, microscopy, and genetic approaches to characterize accessory proteins and their roles in flagellar assembly and function, with three primary objectives: determining how the spoke-ring-cage network assembles to enable optimal motility; identifying how outer membrane-associated accessories facilitate membrane remodeling and sheath formation; and deciphering flagellar assembly and immune evasion mechanisms.

This research addresses a significant public health challenge, as H. pylori colonizes approximately half the global population and represents the major pathogenic factor for peptic ulcer disease, chronic gastritis, and gastric cancer. The anticipated outcomes of this project include critical molecular-level insights into the unique adaptations of sheathed flagella and identification of potential therapeutic targets for developing novel antibacterial compounds that inhibit bacterial motility and pathogenesis. The work will be performed at Yale University's location in West Haven, Connecticut.