Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) awarded Harvard College a Project Grant of $463,375 under the Biomedical Research and Research Training program (CFDA 93.859) on April 1, 2026, with a completion date of February 28, 2031. The award supports fundamental research investigating the mechanisms by which the fungus Entomophthora muscae manipulates the behavior of its host, the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. The research aims to decode the fungal triggers and neural targets involved in behavior manipulation, specifically focusing on the fungal genes responsible for inducing "summiting behavior" (wherein infected flies are driven to climb), the molecular cues that trigger this behavior, the necessity of central nervous system invasion, and the identification of specific neurons directly influenced during manipulation.

The research employs an interdisciplinary approach integrating neurobiology, genetics, and microbiology methodologies. Key research activities include real-time behavioral classification, single-cell messenger RNA sequencing, and metabolomics analysis to uncover the molecular, genetic, and neural circuit mechanisms underlying fungal-induced behaviors. Additionally, the project seeks to establish transgenic access to E. muscae and advance the field of neuroparasitology beyond correlative studies toward causal mechanisms linking parasite genes to host behavior. The research is performed at Harvard College's Cambridge, Massachusetts facility and is anticipated to yield novel insights into neural circuit functionality and potential therapeutic applications of fungal natural products.