Investigating and utilizing microbial appendages
Active Project Grant Awarded Last action
- Award ID
- R35GM159704
- Recipient
-
University Of Alabama At Birmingham UEI YND4PLMC9AN7
- Awarding agency
-
National Institute of General Medical Sciences
National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services
- Obligated
- $816,750
Award facts
- Assistance listing
- 93.859 Biomedical Research and Research Training
- Completion date 23% complete
- Place of performance
- Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
Award details come from USAspending.gov.
Description
- Abstract
- This research program seeks to understand the fundamental mechanisms underlying the production, regulation, and function of microbial appendages, such as flagella and pili, and to use this knowledge to design self-assembled nanofibers for various biochemical applications. Microbial appendages, including flagella and pili, are essential structures that prokaryotic cells invest significant energy in producing. These appendages extend microns from the cell surface and play crucial roles in bacterial survival, adaptation, and virulence. Our recent work has focused on elucidating the structural and functional diversity of flagellar outer domains, revealing their roles in diverse functions such as surface attachment, colonization, and biofilm formation. We have also discovered new types of appendages, such as the extracellular cytochrome nanowires in both bacteria and archaea, which expands our understanding of microbial electron transfer mechanisms. Additionally, we have made progress in understanding the dynamics of pili production, demonstrating how a single pilin subunit can assemble into distinct pilus structures under different conditions, highlighting the adaptability of these structures. In the next five years, we plan to investigate several key areas that align with the overall vision of this project. One focus will be to uncover the interaction between the membranous sheath and a particular class of flagella outer domains in h. Pylori. Understanding this interaction could lead to novel strategies for disrupting bacterial colonization and reducing the risk of severe complications. We also aim to discover and characterize a new class of pili in cyanobacteria, exploring their role in colony formation, toxin interactions, etc. Finally, we will combine our knowledge of cytochrome nanowires with self-assembled peptides to design self-assembled conductive nanowires. Our research program has the potential to significantly advance our understanding of microbial appendages and their roles in bacterial physiology and pathogenesis. Furthermore, the development of self-assembled peptide nanofibers could lead to innovative biomaterials with broad applications in biomedicine, opening new avenues for treatment and technological advancement.
Transactions
| Action | Obligated | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Amendment | $408,375 | |
| Original award | $408,375 |
Quick answers
Who received award R35GM159704?
R35GM159704 was awarded to University Of Alabama At Birmingham by National Institute of General Medical Sciences (National Institutes of Health) on September 1, 2025.
How much is award R35GM159704 worth?
$816,750 has been obligated on R35GM159704.
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