Award
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases 1R01AI192925-01A1
The role of pyruvate acquisition in the survival of Staphylococcus aureus within an intracellular environment
Recipient
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Award Amount
$586,920.00
Ceiling
$586,920.00
Awarded
June 16, 2026
Identifier
1R01AI192925-01A1
NIH awarded a grant to University of Nebraska Medical Center to study the role of pyruvate acquisition in Staphylococcus aureus survival within host cells, focusing on pyruvate transporters and infection models to improve therapeutic strategies.
Description
This project aims to expand understanding of the biological functions of the Staphylococcus aureus lrgAB operon and its role in pyruvate transport. Building on preliminary data showing the operon's importance in survival within macrophages and virulence in a mouse prosthetic joint infection model, the study will test the hypothesis that pyruvate import is necessary for S. aureus to compete with mitochondria for limited pyruvate in host cell cytoplasm. The research will characterize regulation and roles of specific pyruvate transporters, examine their effect on survival within macrophages, and assess their role during prosthetic joint infection (PJI). The goal is to develop more effective therapeutic strategies against S. aureus infections.