Cultivation, Genomic Characterization, and Virulence Assessment of U.S. Orientia
NIAID - National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
About This Grant
Abstract Scrub typhus is a serious human infectious disease caused by the obligate intracellular bacterium Orientia spp., transmitted through the bite of larval trombiculid mites, chiggers. While long considered an Asian-Pacific disease, it has recently been identified in other regions, including the Middle East, Africa and South America, with nearly a billion people at risk annually. The prevailing assumption in the United States has been that chiggers do not transmit human pathogens. However, findings from our study in North Carolina provide evidence against this long-held belief. For the first time in the United States in North Carolina, we detected Orientia spp. in free-living chiggers, in chiggers attached to wild rodents and in rodent ear tissue. We also found in a high-risk population of foresters from our region subjects seropositive for Orientia. The public health significance of chiggers in the US has received little attention mostly limited to our R03 research. Our long-term goal is to determine if US chiggers are potential vectors of Orientia spp. and other rickettsial pathogens, thereby reassessing their threat to human health. The R21 specific objectives of this proposal are to assess the pathogenicity and characterize the genomes of US Orientia. Specific Aim 1. Assessment of US Orientia transmissibility and virulence by species identification and in vitro functional assay, and Specific Aim 2. Genomic assessment of the virulence of US Orientia. This high-risk, high-reward study will provide the first functional and genomic characterization of US Orientia spp., which is critical to the development of public health diagnostics and a better understanding of the importance of US chiggers in human health.
Grant Summary
Cultivation, Genomic Characterization, and Virulence Assessment of U.S. Orientia is a NIAID - National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases grant providing up to $239K for university, nonprofit, healthcare org. Applications are due 2028-06-30 (open). Check eligibility and apply with FindGrants.
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How to Apply
Up to $239K
2028-06-30
- 1Confirm your organization is eligible for Cultivation, Genomic Characterization, and Virulence Assessment of U.S. Orientia 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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Cultivation, Genomic Characterization, and Virulence Assessment of U.S. Orientia: Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for the Cultivation, Genomic Characterization, and Virulence Assessment of U.S. Orientia?
Cultivation, Genomic Characterization, and Virulence Assessment of U.S. Orientia 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 Cultivation, Genomic Characterization, and Virulence Assessment of U.S. Orientia provide?
Cultivation, Genomic Characterization, and Virulence Assessment of U.S. Orientia provides up to $239K 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 Cultivation, Genomic Characterization, and Virulence Assessment of U.S. Orientia deadline?
Applications for Cultivation, Genomic Characterization, and Virulence Assessment of U.S. Orientia are due 2028-06-30 (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 Cultivation, Genomic Characterization, and Virulence Assessment of U.S. Orientia?
To apply for Cultivation, Genomic Characterization, and Virulence Assessment of U.S. Orientia, 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.