Federal Grant Award Summary

Wayne State University received a $225,600 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 20, 2026, with a completion date of April 30, 2028. The research initiative, conducted at the university's Detroit, Michigan facility, focuses on identifying Vibrio cholerae colonization and transmission factors in aquatic hosts using zebrafish as a natural model organism. The project will employ transposon sequencing (Tn-seq) screening and targeted gene deletion methods to characterize bacterial genes essential for fish colonization, followed by comparative testing in mammalian models to assess the relevance of identified factors to human infections.

This investigator-initiated research project aims to advance fundamental understanding of the infectious processes and virulence mechanisms employed by pandemic O1 Vibrio cholerae strains. By leveraging zebrafish as a natural host model that maintains mature intestinal microbiota and immune responses—advantages not available in traditional mammalian models—the research will generate scientific knowledge on pathogenic mechanisms underlying cholera transmission and infection. The findings are intended to contribute to improved public health approaches for addressing diarrheal diseases caused by Vibrio cholerae and related waterborne pathogens.