Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) awarded a Project Grant of $528,560 to Missouri University of Science & Technology (NIGMS Biomedical Research and Research Training program, CFDA 93.859) effective June 1, 2026, through May 31, 2029. The project delivers fundamental biochemical and structural research on flavin-dependent N-monooxygenases, enzymes critical to siderophore biosynthesis in pathogenic organisms including Aspergillus fumigatus and Acinetobacter baumannii. The deliverables include detailed biochemical and structural characterization of histamine N-monooxygenases from pathogenic bacteria, identification and characterization of inhibitors targeting ornithine N-monooxygenase (SIDA) from A. fumigatus, and structural elucidation of reaction intermediates. These research products establish foundational knowledge of enzyme mechanisms that could inform future drug development strategies targeting pathogenic iron acquisition pathways and antibiotic resistance.

In addition to research outputs, the project serves as an educational platform providing training to undergraduate students in protein chemistry, enzyme characterization, inhibitor design and validation, and structural biochemistry. The research outcomes are intended to enhance understanding of siderophore-mediated iron assimilation mechanisms and generate lead compounds for subsequent therapeutic development, contributing to NIGMS's mission of advancing fundamental biological knowledge relevant to disease diagnosis and treatment innovation.