Project Grant R21AI199431

Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) awarded Harvard Medical School a Project Grant of $253,500 under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855) on May 21, 2026, with a completion date of April 30, 2028. The grant funds research investigating a novel eukaryotic-like uridyltransferase enzyme named NAGU in Staphylococcus aureus, with the primary objective of understanding how this enzyme coordinates peptidoglycan cell wall synthesis with turgor pressure regulation. The research employs integrated genetics, biochemistry, cell biology, and metabolomics approaches to characterize the cellular roles of NAGU and its physical interaction with DACA, a diadenylate cyclase that produces the bacterial second messenger cyclic-di-AMP (c-di-AMP).

The research deliverables include fundamental scientific insights into the mechanisms linking cell envelope biogenesis and signal transduction in S. aureus, with particular emphasis on potential connections between cell wall integrity and SOS-mediated DNA damage repair pathways. These findings are intended to contribute to understanding unique adaptations in Staphylococcaceae that may inform development of novel therapeutic strategies against methicillin-resistant S. aureus, a leading cause of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections worldwide. The project is conducted at Harvard Medical School's Boston, Massachusetts location under the auspices of the President and Fellows of Harvard College through its Office of Research Administration Division.