Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Vanderbilt University Medical Center received a $274,991 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 8, 2026, with a completion date of April 30, 2028. The grant supports investigator-initiated biomedical research examining bacterial membrane fusion mechanisms that enable commensal microorganisms to survive during enteric pathogen infections. The research focuses on understanding how beneficial gut bacteria, specifically Bacteroides vulgatus, utilize outer membrane vesicle (OMV) fusion to access iron siderophores produced by pathogenic Salmonella typhimurium during host nutritional immunity responses that restrict microbial access to essential metals.

The funded research employs genome-wide forward genetics and molecular analysis to characterize the determinants of OMV-bacterial membrane fusion, with particular emphasis on peptidoglycan remodeling enzymes and cell wall modifications essential for iron acquisition. Deliverables include scientific findings that elucidate how OMV fusion orchestrates commensal resilience during infection and contributes to understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the microbiota's ability to withstand perturbations. This basic science research generates knowledge intended to advance understanding of host-microbe interactions and inform strategies for sustaining microbial ecosystem stability during enteric infections.