Federal Grant Award Summary

The University of Maryland, College Park received a $417,295 Project Grant award from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855), with an award date of February 23, 2026, and completion date of January 31, 2028. This R21 grant supports research investigating the mechanisms by which Group A Streptococcus (GAS) senses and adapts to changing heme levels during invasive infections such as bacteremia. The research deliverables include identification and characterization of GAS heme-sensing regulatory proteins and mechanisms, particularly two-component signal transduction systems (TCS), through molecular genetic methods, biochemical analysis, transcriptome studies, and genome-wide mutagenesis screens.

The project encompasses three specific research aims: (1) determining whether TCS sensor kinases are required for GAS adaptation to heme toxicity using RNA-sequencing and transposon insertion mutagenesis sequencing (TN-SEQ); (2) investigating the regulation of sugar metabolic pathway shifts during heme stress; and (3) assessing the role of heme-regulated signaling through TCS sensor kinases or alternative pathways using in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo models. These research activities are designed to establish the pathogenic role of heme-sensing and adaptation mechanisms in GAS infection, contributing to enhanced understanding of bacterial virulence and potential therapeutic targets.