Project Grant R01AI203335

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases awarded Rutgers The State University of New Jersey $780,615 on July 23, 2026, under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855) to conduct research on immune signaling and antibacterial defenses controlled by mycobacterial PE/PPE proteins.

The research addresses mechanisms by which Mycobacterium tuberculosis manipulates host cell biology to establish infection. MTB secretes over 100 proteins that block macrophage antibacterial pathways; approximately 170 of these secreted proteins belong to the poorly understood PE/PPE family, which comprises roughly 10 percent of the MTB genome. The project investigates how different PE/PPE proteins localize to distinct cellular domains within host cells using localization signals including nuclear localization signals, mitochondrial targeting sequences, and cytoskeleton-associated SH3 protein interaction domains. Preliminary work identified PE9 localization to the nucleus, PPE61 to mitochondria, and PPE15 to the nuclear envelope, suggesting novel cellular functions that may clarify how each PE/PPE mechanistically contributes to MTB infection and informs development of novel therapeutics for tuberculosis.

Work is performed at the recipient's Newark, New Jersey location. The competitive segment runs from July 23, 2026, through June 30, 2031.