Project Grant R21AI199322

Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) awarded a $199,524 Project Grant on May 21, 2026, under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855) to The Research Foundation for the State University of New York, with performance at the University at Buffalo. The award funds a genomics research initiative examining the evolutionary origins of germinal center (GC) immune responses through advanced molecular and computational analysis. The research employs single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and spatial transcriptomics to characterize immune cell subsets and their spatial organization in the spleen of the red-eared slider turtle (Trachemys scripta), with the goal of understanding how genes associated with GC development—including AICDA, BCL6, CD40, CD40LG, CXCR5, ICOS, and others—were evolutionarily co-opted to support GC responses in mammals. The project period extends through April 30, 2028.

This research addresses a fundamental gap in understanding immunological evolution by investigating genes present in non-mammalian species that lack organized germinal centers, thereby elucidating the regulatory mechanisms and biological adaptations underlying the transition to sophisticated adaptive immune responses in mammals. The deliverables include genomic datasets, bioinformatic analyses, and characterization of immune cell regulatory pathways that may inform understanding of B cell responses relevant to anti-pathogen immunity and vaccine efficacy.