Cell polarity in the obligate intracellular pathogen Rickettsia parkeri
NIAID - National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
About This Grant
The order Rickettsiales comprises arthropod-associated, obligate intracellular bacteria that are constrained to grow within a eukaryotic host as a result of substantial genome reduction. Their obligate intracellular lifestyle imposes challenges in culturing, genetically manipulating, and imaging these species. As a result, our understanding of fundamental aspects of rickettsial cell biology is limited. The Rickettsiales include a growing number of important human pathogens, however, and a mechanistic understanding of growth and cellular organization would potentiate therapeutic strategies to control rickettsial disease. Within the Rickettsia genus, the Spotted Fever Group (SFG) includes tick-borne human pathogens that cause diseases ranging from mild to life-threatening. Among the SFG bacteria, Rickettsia parkeri causes a relatively mild disease and presents a tractable model for probing the cell biology of this group. Interestingly, despite its reduced genome and lack of obvious morphological polarity, R. parkeri and other Rickettsiales encode putative cell polarity factors, including the polar organizing protein PopZ. We hypothesize that R. parkeri and other Rickettsiales exploit cell polarity to promote their intracellular growth and interactions with a host and that PopZ is important for establishing cell polarity in this group. Here, we propose to identify the suite of polar proteins in R. parkeri and functionally characterize PopZ’s role in growth and host interactions. In Aim 1, we will leverage proximity labeling to comprehensively identify the polar protein repertoire in R. parkeri and will validate putative polar proteins. In Aim 2, will leverage a transposon mutant of popZ to characterize the function of PopZ in fundamental events during R. parkeri growth and interactions with a host cell. Completion of this project will provide foundational knowledge on the mechanisms and function of cell polarity in an important tick-borne, obligate intracellular pathogen that may aid in the design of new antibacterial therapeutic approaches.
Grant Summary
Cell polarity in the obligate intracellular pathogen Rickettsia parkeri is a NIAID - National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases grant providing up to $423K for university, nonprofit, healthcare org. Applications are due 2028-03-31 (open). Check eligibility and apply with FindGrants.
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How to Apply
Up to $423K
2028-03-31
- 1Confirm your organization is eligible for Cell polarity in the obligate intracellular pathogen Rickettsia parkeri from NIAID - National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, checking organization type, location, and any population or project requirements.
- 2Gather the required documents and information, including your organization details, project plan, and budget figures.
- 3Draft your application narrative and budget addressing the funder's priorities and review criteria. FindGrants can draft each section for you to review and edit.
- 4Review every section against the requirements checklist, then export a submission-ready application pack and submit it to NIAID - National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases before the deadline.
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Cell polarity in the obligate intracellular pathogen Rickettsia parkeri: Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for the Cell polarity in the obligate intracellular pathogen Rickettsia parkeri?
Cell polarity in the obligate intracellular pathogen Rickettsia parkeri is offered by NIAID - National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and is generally open to university, nonprofit, healthcare org. It is open to organizations nationwide unless the funder specifies otherwise. Review the specific eligibility terms before applying, since funders set their own requirements around organization type, location, and the population or project being served.
How much funding does the Cell polarity in the obligate intracellular pathogen Rickettsia parkeri provide?
Cell polarity in the obligate intracellular pathogen Rickettsia parkeri provides up to $423K per award from NIAID - National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Actual award sizes depend on the scope of your project, available program funds, and the number of applicants, so build a budget that reflects realistic, allowable costs rather than the maximum figure.
When is the Cell polarity in the obligate intracellular pathogen Rickettsia parkeri deadline?
Applications for Cell polarity in the obligate intracellular pathogen Rickettsia parkeri are due 2028-03-31 (open). Because deadlines can change, verify the date with the funder, NIAID - National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and give yourself enough time to prepare a complete, competitive application before the close date.
How do you apply for the Cell polarity in the obligate intracellular pathogen Rickettsia parkeri?
To apply for Cell polarity in the obligate intracellular pathogen Rickettsia parkeri, confirm your eligibility, gather the required documents, and prepare a narrative and budget that address the funder's priorities. FindGrants guides you step by step and can draft each section, then exports a submission-ready application pack for this grant from NIAID - National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.