Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Washington State University received a $229,500 Project Grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855), awarded May 22, 2026, with a completion date of April 30, 2028. The research focuses on dissecting the antimicrobial network orchestrated by the noncanonical Immune Deficiency (IMD) pathway in ticks, specifically investigating how the Ixodes tick immune system restricts colonization and survival of Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease. This research addresses a fundamental knowledge gap in vector biology by examining tick immune mechanisms that differ from well-characterized insect immunity pathways.

The grant supports investigative research aimed at identifying gene targets transcriptionally upregulated by the Relish transcription factor in the tick IMD pathway, with particular focus on tachylectin-5 and other antimicrobial effector molecules. Specific project aims include examining whether tachylectin-5 expression is driven by Relish and investigating the antimicrobial mechanisms by which the IMD pathway restricts Borrelia burgdorferi infection. The research is conducted at Washington State University's Pullman, Washington facility and generates scientific knowledge intended to advance understanding of arthropod-borne disease transmission mechanisms and improve public health outcomes.