Official websites use .gov

A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS

A lock ( 🔒 ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Need Help

Characterization of a novel kin recognition system in mycobacteria

Award Number: R01AI181948
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: 02/01/2024
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 12/31/2028

Group Awards By:

View Award Description

Characterization of a novel kin recognition system in mycobacteria - Distributive Conjugal Transfer (DCT) is a unique conjugation process, first described in Mycobacterium smegmatis, which is so robust that it emulates the genome mixing capacity of sexual reproduction: transconjugant genomes are mosaic blends of each parent. Thus, DCT is a new paradigm of conjugation, evolution, and horizontal gene transfer (HGT)-mediated gene flow within a bacterial gene pool. Our long- term goals are to elucidate the mechanism of DCT and understand its role in driving mycobacterial evolution. We recently defined a three-gene mating identity locus (mid) as critical for donor-recipient compatibility. Remarkably, one gene within the locus, midA, confers mycobacterial self-identity (kin). If the identical midA gene is expressed in both donor and recipient, DCT is prevented as the cells sense kin. The focus of this proposal is to characterize this novel form of kin recognition in mycobacteria, and to determine how it triggers/blocks DCT. Sequence comparisons of the three mid proteins in other mycobacteria shows that they are highly polymorphic. We hypothesize that this sequence diversity is driven by the need to express self-identity. MidA is predicted to have a small N-terminal cytoplasmic domain and a large extracellular C-terminal domain. We propose a model in which direct cell contact between donor and recipient would allow the interaction of the surface exposed MidA proteins to sense kin. The N-terminal cytoplasmic domain would trigger a transcriptional response in the recipient that either activates (non- kin) or prevents (kin) progression to conjugation. The two Aims are designed to characterize the mycobacterial kin recognition protein(s), determine how mid discriminates between contacting mycobacteria, and elucidate the molecular genetic pathways triggered by mid. Aim1. Define and characterize the mid locus and the encoded kin functions. Aim 2. Identify and characterize the genes responsible for kin recognition in donor and recipient strains by transcriptional profiling wild-type and mutant strains in co-culture. These objectives will be achieved by employing a combination of molecular genetic, genomic, and biochemical approaches to dissect the mid locus, and transcriptional profiling of donor and recipient strains in coculture to determine the transcriptional responses to kin recognition and DCT. Together, these studies will elucidate the molecular basis of kin recognition in mycobacteria and provide further mechanistic insights on this novel mechanism of HGT.


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: 2026 ( Subtotal = $456,034 )
2026	2026	HEALTH RESEARCH, INC.	150 BROADWAY STE 280	MENANDS	NY	12204	ALBANY	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	001	3	1/7/2026	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
2026	2026	HEALTH RESEARCH, INC.	150 BROADWAY STE 280	MENANDS	NY	12204	ALBANY	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	3	12/18/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$456,034
														Subtotal = $456,034

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $442,353 )
2025	2025	HEALTH RESEARCH, INC.	150 BROADWAY STE 280	MENANDS	NY	12204	ALBANY	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	2	12/12/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$442,353
														Subtotal = $442,353

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $453,034 )
2024	2024	HEALTH RESEARCH, INC.	150 BROADWAY STE 280	MENANDS	NY	12204	ALBANY	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	001	1	9/4/2024	NEW	-$18,189
2024	2024	HEALTH RESEARCH, INC.	150 BROADWAY STE 280	MENANDS	NY	12204	ALBANY	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	1	1/30/2024	NEW	$471,223
														Subtotal = $453,034

Grand Total All Awards = $1,351,421

Top

All Categories

About

Search

Reports

Data Submission

Award Information

Characterization of a novel kin recognition system in mycobacteria

Award Number: R01AI181948

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: 02/01/2024

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 12/31/2028

Federal Websites

Department of Health & Human Services

HHS Operating Divisions

HHS Staff Divisions

Download A Document Viewer