Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) awarded a $599,642 Project Grant under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855) to the University of California Santa Cruz, effective May 5, 2026, with a completion date of April 30, 2031. The research initiative focuses on elucidating the mechanisms by which flagellar accessory proteins enhance bacterial motility, cellular responses, and infection capability in Helicobacter pylori, a gastric pathogen responsible for ulcers and gastric cancer affecting millions of individuals globally. Specifically, researchers will investigate how pilMNO proteins—homologs of type 4 pili proteins that have evolved to function with bacterial flagella—regulate motility and are essential for stomach colonization, with the ultimate objective of identifying novel drug targets to combat H. pylori infection and address rising antibiotic resistance failures in current therapeutic regimens.

The research deliverables will generate scientific knowledge regarding H. pylori's pathogenic mechanisms and produce insights into how flagellar accessory proteins function as signaling hubs to confer new bacterial capabilities. This basic science research is intended to support the development of innovative therapeutic strategies to improve clinical outcomes for the millions of patients suffering from H. pylori-associated diseases, thereby advancing public health protection against this persistent infectious threat.