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Tsetse-microbiota negotiations mediated by microRNAs

Award Number: R21AI145271
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: 07/16/2021
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 12/31/2024

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Tsetse-microbiota negotiations mediated by microRNAs - Project summary Tsetse flies (Diptera: Glossinidae) are the cyclical vectors of African trypanosomes (Trypanosoma brucei spp.) which are the causative agents of fatal Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT), and Animal African Trypanosomiasis (AAT) in wild and domesticated animals. The taxonomically simple tsetse enteric microbiota is dominated by an obligate bacterial mutualist, Wigglesworthia. A monoculture of intracellular Wigglesworthia is found within a specialized organ, known as the bacteriome, located at the anterior midgut. Several critical roles towards tsetse biology, spanning from essential nutrient provisioning to immunological priming, have been characterized for Wigglesworthia. Importantly, the elimination (or functional disruption) of the tsetse- Wigglesworthia association results in lags to tsetse development and sizeable reductions in reproductive output. Our long-term objective is to expand our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that coordinate tsetse-Wigglesworthia activity. Here, the role of tsetse-generated microRNAs (miRNAs) towards facilitating the metabolic and developmental integration of Wigglesworthia-tsetse symbiosis will be examined. Our research design involves the identification of miRNAs that are differentially expressed within bacteriomes (relative to non-symbiont harboring organs) during tsetse sex-specific development and pregnancy using deep sequencing-based approaches. Additionally, the gene targets of these miRNAs will be initially identified using computational genomics. The effect(s) of disrupting miRNA-275, significantly upregulated within the bacteriomes of pregnant tsetse, towards tsetse fly life history traits, bacteriome integrity and Wigglesworthia density will be characterized. This project aims to unravel fundamental molecular mechanisms that coordinate host-microbiota biology. The disruption of pivotal Wigglesworthia-mediated metabolic processes within tsetse offers novel targets for biocontrol.


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 = -$10,717 )
2025	2022	WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH CORPORATION	886 CHESTNUT RIDGE ROAD	MORGANTOWN	WV	26505	MONONGALIA	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	2	5/7/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$10,717
														Subtotal = -$10,717

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2024	2022	WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH CORPORATION	886 CHESTNUT RIDGE ROAD	MORGANTOWN	WV	26505	MONONGALIA	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	2	7/1/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $190,000 )
2022	2022	WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH CORPORATION	886 CHESTNUT RIDGE	MORGANTOWN	WV	26506	MONONGALIA	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	2	6/17/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$190,000
														Subtotal = $190,000

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $228,000 )
2021	2021	WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH CORPORATION	886 CHESTNUT RIDGE	MORGANTOWN	WV	26506	MONONGALIA	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	1	7/16/2021	NEW	$228,000
														Subtotal = $228,000

Grand Total All Awards = $407,283

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Tsetse-microbiota negotiations mediated by microRNAs

Award Number: R21AI145271

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: 07/16/2021

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 12/31/2024

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