Tuesday, November 18, 2025 11/18/2025

Functional analysis of a novel cell envelope integrity protein in Brucella ovis

Award Number: F32AI174818
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/01/2023
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/31/2026

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Functional analysis of a novel cell envelope integrity protein in Brucella ovis - Abstract The long-term goal of this research is to determine how bacteria maintain cell envelope integrity in the face of harsh and fluctuating environmental conditions. The cell envelope of Gram-negative bacteria is composed of the cytoplasmic membrane, peptidoglycan cell wall, and the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-containing outer membrane. In the intracellular pathogens, Brucella spp., the composition of the LPS is critical for virulence and persistence in the host. Our group recently identified a periplasmic protein of unknown function, named EipA, that is conserved across the class Alphaproteobacteria, including Brucella. Deletion of eipA in Brucella abortus results in a sensitivity to envelope stressors and an attenuation of virulence in a mouse model of infection. In Brucella ovis, a species that lacks smooth LPS, eipA is essential. Conditional depletion of eipA expression in B. ovis causes cells to form chains; this provides evidence for a role for EipA in cell division. Preliminary cryo-electron microscopy results indicate that these chained cells fail to control the distance between the cytoplasmic membrane and outer membrane, resulting in an extended periplasm in eipA-depleted cells. In aim 1, I will investigate the effect of eipA depletion on the cell envelope architecture. Specifically, I will test the role of eipA in a) peptidoglycan synthesis and remodeling at the septum and b) the binding of EipA to phospholipids. In aim 2, I will characterize suppressor mutations that restore growth to the eipA depletion strain and perform an unbiased pull-down assay with the goal of identifying the molecular interaction partners of EipA. The experiments described in this proposal will clarify the role of the essential gene eipA in B. ovis and will add to our understanding of the alphaproteobacterial cell envelope.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $78,040 )
2025	2025	MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY	426 AUDITORIUM RD RM 2	EAST LANSING	MI	48824	INGHAM	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	3	7/23/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$78,040
														Subtotal = $78,040

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $74,284 )
2024	2024	MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY	426 AUDITORIUM RD RM 2	EAST LANSING	MI	48824	INGHAM	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	2	8/15/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$74,284
														Subtotal = $74,284

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $69,080 )
2023	2023	MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY	426 AUDITORIUM RD RM 2	EAST LANSING	MI	48824	INGHAM	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	001	1	8/1/2023	NEW	$0
2023	2023	MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY	426 AUDITORIUM RD RM 2	EAST LANSING	MI	48824	INGHAM	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	1	8/1/2023	NEW	$69,080
														Subtotal = $69,080

Grand Total All Awards = $221,404

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Functional analysis of a novel cell envelope integrity protein in Brucella ovis

Award Number: F32AI174818

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/01/2023

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/31/2026

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