Sunday, June 29, 2025 6/29/2025

Nucleic Acids and Pneumococcal Extracellular Vesicles: the Who, How and Why?

Award Number: R21AI182784
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: 06/07/2024
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 04/30/2026

Group Awards By:

View Award Description

Nucleic Acids and Pneumococcal Extracellular Vesicles: the Who, How and Why? - Project Summary There is a critical need to develop therapies targeting Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn): a major human pathogen contributing to global morbidity and mortality. Bacterial communication is a critical contributor to virulence, and we propose that bacterial extracellular vesicles (EVs) contribute to communication across bacteria as well as between bacteria and the mammalian host, and in doing so, contribute to pathogenesis and serve as therapeutic targets. This proposal is based on preliminary results that demonstrate not only that viable Spn produce EVs (pEVs), but also that these pEVs are associated with DNA and RNA. Our hypothesis is that the nucleic acids on pEVs are delivered to other bacteria, and that uptake of pEV RNA by bacterial cells promotes changes in gene expression and subsequent changes in phenotypes. Conclusion of this proposal will reveal the molecules tethering nucleic acids to pEVs, uncover the sequence and localization of pEV-bound RNA, and test whether and how internalization of EVs, and RNA on pEVs, modifies the transcriptional profile of the recipient bacterial cells. This work will set the stage for future studies focused on the role of pEV-nucleic acids in driving infection-associated phenotypes and host immunity.


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 = $227,833 )
2025	2025	CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY	5000 FORBES AVE	PITTSBURGH	PA	15213	ALLEGHENY	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	2	4/21/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$227,833
														Subtotal = $227,833

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $203,084 )
2024	2024	CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY	5000 FORBES AVE	PITTSBURGH	PA	15213	ALLEGHENY	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	1	6/7/2024	NEW	$182,776
2024	2024	CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY	5000 FORBES AVE	PITTSBURGH	PA	15213	ALLEGHENY	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	001	1	9/11/2024	NEW	$20,308
														Subtotal = $203,084

Grand Total All Awards = $430,917

Top

All Categories

About

Search

Reports

Data Submission

Award Information

Nucleic Acids and Pneumococcal Extracellular Vesicles: the Who, How and Why?

Award Number: R21AI182784

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: 06/07/2024

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 04/30/2026

Federal Websites

Department of Health & Human Services

HHS Operating Divisions

HHS Staff Divisions

Download A Document Viewer