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Elucidating the Structural Mechanisms of NAIP Receptors in Bacterial Detection and Inflammasome Activation

Award Number: R01AI165580
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 12/10/2021
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 11/30/2026

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Elucidating the Structural Mechanisms of NAIP Receptors in Bacterial Detection and Inflammasome Activation - Project Summary Inflammasomes are mega-Dalton protein complexes that initiate inflammation responses and play important roles in the innate immune system. Upon activation, inflammasomes recruit and activate the effector protein caspase-1. Caspase-1 in turn cleaves the Gasdermin D (GSDMD) protein to release its N-terminal domain, which inserts into the cell membrane to punch holes on the cell surface. As a result, the host cell will undergo pyroptotic cell death (pyroptosis) and release the cell contents into the extracellular environment. Pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1 and IL-18, both activated by caspase-1, will also be released to activate the downstream inflammation reactions. NAIP is a family of cytosolic immunological receptors that activate the NAIP/NLRC4 inflammasomes in response to Gram-negative bacterial infections. There are seven NAIP proteins in mouse, each sense a specific ligand such as Flagellin, Needle protein or Inner Rod protein in the type III secretion system. In previous studies, we have shown active NAIPs activate NLRC4 through the nucleated polymerization mechanism. However, it is still largely unknown about how NAIPs remain inactive in the resting cells, and how is the ligand specificity is determined among different NAIPs. Unlike in mouse, humans only have one NAIP and it was shown to be activated by all three bacterial ligands. This leads to many questions including what is the structural basis of the broad detection of bacterial ligands by human NAIP and what does it tell us about the human inflammasomal bacterial detection mechanism? To address these questions, we propose to combine electron cryo-microscopy (cryoEM) with biochemical and functional studies to elucidate the structural mechanisms underlying the signal transduction by NAIP proteins. Dysregulation of NAIP/NLRC4 inflammasomes causes macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) and autoinflammation, and mutations of NAIP protein are highly correlated with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). The successful execution of this work will broadly advance the development of effective therapies to treat infectious diseases, autoinflammatory diseases, SMA, and cancer through targeting the inflammasome pathway.


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 = $465,600 )
2025	2025	VAN ANDEL RESEARCH INSTITUTE	333 BOSTWICK AVE NE	GRAND RAPIDS	MI	49503	KENT	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	003	4	3/26/2025	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$153,195
2025	2025	VAN ANDEL RESEARCH INSTITUTE	333 BOSTWICK AVE NE	GRAND RAPIDS	MI	49503	KENT	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	001	4	11/5/2024	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$465,600
2025	2024	OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY	3181 SW SAM JACKSON PARK RD	PORTLAND	OR	97239	MULTNOMAH	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	002	3	3/26/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$153,195
2025	2024	OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY	3181 SW SAM JACKSON PARK RD	PORTLAND	OR	97239	MULTNOMAH	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	3	11/4/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $465,600

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $385,000 )
2024	2024	OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY	3181 SW SAM JACKSON PARK RD	PORTLAND	OR	97239	MULTNOMAH	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	3	12/1/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$346,500
2024	2024	OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY	3181 SW SAM JACKSON PARK RD	PORTLAND	OR	97239	MULTNOMAH	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	001	3	5/15/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$38,500
														Subtotal = $385,000

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $385,000 )
2023	2023	OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY	3181 SW SAM JACKSON PARK RD	PORTLAND	OR	97239	MULTNOMAH	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	2	11/9/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$385,000
														Subtotal = $385,000

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $360,295 )
2022	2022	OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY	3181 SW SAM JACKSON PARK RD	PORTLAND	OR	97239	MULTNOMAH	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	1	12/10/2021	NEW	$360,295
														Subtotal = $360,295

Grand Total All Awards = $1,595,895

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Elucidating the Structural Mechanisms of NAIP Receptors in Bacterial Detection and Inflammasome Activation

Award Number: R01AI165580

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 12/10/2021

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 11/30/2026

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