Award
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases 5R01AI139072-09
The roles of ceramide and its derivatives in A. phagocytophilum pathogenesis
Recipient
Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Award Amount
$721,608.00
Ceiling
$721,608.00
Awarded
June 12, 2026
Identifier
5R01AI139072-09
This NIH-funded project at Virginia Commonwealth University studies how the bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum manipulates host lipids to promote infection and spread, aiming to understand host-pathogen interactions and develop new infectious disease treatments.
Description
Anaplasma phagocytophilum (Ap) is an obligate intracellular bacterium causing human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA). This project investigates how Ap manipulates host sphingolipids, particularly ceramide-1-phosphate (C1P), to destabilize the Golgi apparatus, promote vesicle trafficking, and facilitate its proliferation and dissemination through exosome release. The study aims to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of host-pathogen interactions and exosome-mediated communication in infectious disease.