Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Kennesaw State University received a $144,000 Project Grant award from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855), effective July 13, 2026, with a completion date of June 30, 2030. The research project focuses on comparative mechanistic and structural analysis of phosphoethanolamine N-methyltransferases (PMTs) in apicomplexan parasites, which cause significant diseases including malaria, toxoplasmosis, and foodborne infections. The funded research will integrate comparative genomics, enzymology, biophysics, and mutagenesis to elucidate the catalytic mechanisms and ligand-recognition characteristics of PMTs from multiple parasite species including Plasmodium, Cyclospora, Toxoplasma, and Eimeria.

The deliverables include structural characterization of apicomplexan PMTs utilizing artificial intelligence and machine learning-supported computational analysis with experimental validation to determine high-resolution protein structures and identify conserved versus variable ligand-binding regions. The ultimate outcome is to establish structure-function relationships that will identify potentially druggable binding pockets and enable development of selective small-molecule inhibitors for broad-spectrum and lineage-specific antiparasitic therapeutics. The project integrates well-established research methodologies with advanced instrumentation and provides research training opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students at the institution.