Award
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases 5R16AI182337-03
Mechanism of Toxin Mediated Damage to the Lung Epithelium during S. pneumoniae Infection
Recipient
San Jose State University
Award Amount
$146,500.00
Ceiling
$146,500.00
Awarded
April 16, 2026
Identifier
5R16AI182337-03
This award funds research to understand how the pneumolysin toxin from Streptococcus pneumoniae damages lung epithelium, facilitating bacterial spread and severe pneumonia. The findings aim to inform new therapeutic strategies.
Description
The research aims to elucidate the role of a Streptococcus pneumoniae toxin, pneumolysin (PLY), in damaging the lung epithelium, which promotes bacterial dissemination and severe disease. The study investigates how PLY disrupts lung epithelial cell junctions and assesses if similar toxins share this mechanism, to aid in designing novel therapies for pneumonia and other lung infections.