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Context-specific cellular networks in bacterial pathogens

Award Number: R35GM161796
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF GENERAL MEDICAL SCIENCES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 05/01/2026
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 02/28/2031

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Context-specific cellular networks in bacterial pathogens - Project Summary/Abstract The microbiome revolution created a combinatorial explosion in microbiology. There are thousands of species of bacteria that impact our health, and each microbe responds differently to an exponential number of environ- ments and stressors. Human scientists alone cannot study the response of every bacterium in all possible environments. Instead, the Jensen Lab develops AI-driven robotic scientists that plan, execute, and interpret thousands of scientific experiments each day. Our robot scientists have performed over one million automated experiments to map the phenotypic landscape of human-associated bacteria and identify novel quorum sensing pathways that mediate intercellular communication. Our lab’s previous research made two key discoveries about the streptococci, a genus replete with species that impact human health. First, we learned that each species has a unique and complex pattern of auxotrophies. These different nutrient preferences are surprising since many streptococci live exclusively in the same niche and share an evolutionary history of co-adaptation. Our second discovery is that streptococci possess multiple quorum sensing pathways that interact within and across species. Our genome mining has uncovered several novel classes of quorum sensing systems that streptococci use to communicate, interact, and colonize humans. Our future research will integrate metabolism and quorum sensing into a comprehensive, quantitative view of a pathogen’s global context. We will transition from studying metabolism and quorum sensing in isolation to a systems-level view that explains how environmental and genetic factors rewire individual pathways. This ambi- tious goal will require us to train our robot scientist to perform genetic perturbations on demand and incorporate our newly developed expertise in automated fluorescence microscopy. Bringing together imaging, combinatorial phenotyping, and high-throughput genetics will automate the dis- covery of interactions between genes, cells, and environmental stressors. Our approach to automated science can be transferred to other cellular networks and organisms, accelerating scientific discovery and advancing our understanding of the complex bacteria that shape our health.


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 = $426,539 )
2026	2026	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN	1109 GEDDES AVE STE 3300	ANN ARBOR	MI	48109	WASHTENAW	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	1	3/27/2026	NEW	$426,539
														Subtotal = $426,539

Grand Total All Awards = $426,539

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Context-specific cellular networks in bacterial pathogens

Award Number: R35GM161796

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF GENERAL MEDICAL SCIENCES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

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

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 05/01/2026

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 02/28/2031

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