Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) awarded the University of Connecticut a $447,604 Project Grant effective February 24, 2026 through January 31, 2028 under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855). This award supports research to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of action of novel small molecule compounds that regulate the GTPase activity of BipA, a multidomain GTPase universally conserved in pathogenic bacteria. BipA represents a prime antimicrobial target due to its essential role in bacterial virulence, stress response, and environmental adaptation, with null mutants demonstrating avirulence and inability to survive environmental fluctuations.

The research deliverables include identification and characterization of chemical probes selectively binding to allosteric sites within BipA through integration of site-directed mutagenesis, biochemical assays, molecular dynamics simulations, and solution structural analysis. By disrupting BipA's interaction with the ribosome—particularly the formation of GTP-bound 70S ribosomal complexes and stress-induced 30S:BipA:ppGpp complexes—these compounds are hypothesized to impair essential cellular functions and prove lethal to microorganisms. This research addresses the urgent public health need for novel antibiotics with unique mechanisms of action to combat multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens. Research activities will be conducted at the University of Connecticut's Storrs, Connecticut campus.