Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) awarded the University of Connecticut Health Center a Project Grant totaling $457,875 under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855) for the period February 10, 2026 through January 31, 2028. This award supports biomedical research investigating independent gene regulation by the Borrelia burgdorferi Fur ortholog (BosR), the causative agent of Lyme disease. The research examines BosR's regulatory functions beyond the known RpoN/RpoS pathway, utilizing a dialysis membrane chamber system to model mammalian host-adapted bacteria and identify genes regulated by BosR independently of RpoS in both tick vectors and mammalian hosts.

The primary deliverable is original scientific research that advances understanding of B. burgdorferi's transcriptional regulatory mechanisms and dual-host lifecycle adaptation. Preliminary findings indicate BosR regulates 82 genes independently of RpoS in mammalian environments and 90 genes in vitro, with differential expression patterns between host environments. The research employs molecular genetics techniques, including engineered point mutations to assess DNA-binding requirements, to elucidate how this pathogen employs sophisticated regulatory mechanisms to sustain infection across its tick-rodent transmission cycle. Research outputs will likely include peer-reviewed publications and mechanistic insights into Lyme disease spirochete biology relevant to vaccine and therapeutic development strategies.