Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Baylor College of Medicine received a $160,500 Project Grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855) effective April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2028. The award supports the development and validation of a novel guinea pig animal model to study relapsing fever (RF) disease caused by Borrelia species pathogens. Relapsing fever is a vector-borne infection transmitted primarily by soft ticks that causes severe clinical manifestations in humans, including recurring febrile illness, neurologic complications, and potential perinatal death. The project addresses a critical research gap, as existing animal models—particularly mice—fail to replicate key pathophysiological features of human RF disease, such as the hyperthermic response during spirochetemia (high bacterial density in blood).

The research will establish guinea pigs as a cost-effective alternative disease model to study the two Borrelia species most prevalent in North America: Borrelia hermsii and Borrelia turicatae. The deliverables include characterization of bacterial infection dynamics, host immune responses, and mechanisms underlying severe clinical manifestations and the Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction—an acute exacerbation of symptoms occurring in 30-50% of patients upon antibiotic treatment initiation. This guinea pig model will enable rigorous investigation into RF disease pathogenesis and potential therapeutic interventions, advancing understanding of vector-borne spirochetal infections and improving public health preparedness for future outbreaks.