Grant: Project Grant

Multidrug resistant Acinetobacter is a Gram-negative pathogen that is considered to be an "urgent threat" by the CDC as it causes 12000 infections/yr (7300 MDR with no cure) and 500 deaths in the US annually. While investigating the proteins that are anchored on the cell surface of this pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria , we noticed that clinically relevant disease isolates of A. baumannii have acquired a mobile genetic element-a novel gene cluster predicted to be involved in heme utilization-and that these genes encode predicted surface exposed membrane proteins. This research project focuses on understanding what role these proteins play in the growth and pathogenicity of A. baumannii. The main goal of this research is to provide a structural and functional analysis of these newly identified proteins and provide a mechanistic understanding of their role in pathogenesis. As surface exposed membrane proteins represent ideal targets for therapeutics and vaccines, we will help provide the foundational research for using these surface receptors as new therapeutic and vaccine targets to eradicate these pathogens, and aid to combat the global crisis of infections caused by multi-drug resistant strains.