# The impact of dietary zinc deficiency on innate immunity to lung infection

> **NIH NIH K99** · VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER · 2020 · $124,363

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
 Candidate: My postdoctoral research thus far focused on the effects of host dietary zinc on bacterial
pathogenesis during Acinetobacter baumannii pneumonia in Dr. Eric P. Skaar's laboratory at Vanderbilt
University Medical Center. I earned my PhD in Microbiology with Dr. Diana Downs studying thiamine (vitamin
B1) biosynthesis in Salmonella enterica at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Georgia.
 Career Goals and Objectives: My career goal is to be a tenure-track faculty member at a top-tier research
institution working with trainees at all levels to understand how metabolism affects the host-pathogen interface.
In order to achieve this goal, I need additional mentored training in host inflammation and immunology.
 Career Development and Training Activities: My mentoring committee will be led by Dr. Skaar and
include Dr. R. Stokes Peebles, Dr. C. Henrique Serezani, and Dr. Dawn C. Newcomb, experts in metals at the
host-pathogen interface, infection imaging, type 2 lung immunity, innate inflammation, and respiratory epithelial
biology. My mentoring committee will continue to meet biannually and support my practical, didactic, and
career development training to aid my transition to independence.
 Research Strategy: The World Health Organization estimated that zinc deficiency contributes to 16% of
lower respiratory infections globally. Our exciting preliminary data show that zinc deficiency significantly
increases mortality from A. baumannii pneumonia by 24 h post infection, and that neutralization of the type 2
cytokine IL-13 protects mice from mortality. The central hypothesis of this proposal is that dietary Zn
deficiency promotes type 2 inflammation during lung infection, preventing A. baumannii killing.
 Significance and Innovation: The research plan will identify molecular mechanisms underlying the link
between zinc deficiency and pneumonia. The proposed experiments will uncover potential therapeutic targets
to promote lung innate immunity.
 Aim 1 (K99): Determine the effect of Zn deficiency on leukocyte-mediated bacterial killing. We will
test the effect of zinc deficiency on leukocyte function ex vivo and in vivo using sophisticated animal models
and an engineered suite of fluorescent A. baumannii to image the host-pathogen interface in real time.
 Aim 2 (R00): Identify the mechanism by which Zn deficiency promotes type 2 immunity in response
to bacterial lung infection. We will identify the cellular source of IL-13 and upstream cytokine signaling by the
airway epithelium to investigate the effect of Zn deficiency on human airway epithelial cell initial inflammatory
response to infection that drives lung mucosal immunity.
 Transition to independence: These aims were developed independently of Dr. Skaar and my co-mentors,
and they will not pursue overlapping research plans. During the K99, I will apply for faculty positions nationally.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10005451
- **Project number:** 5K99HL143441-02
- **Recipient organization:** VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Lauren Disterhoft Palmer
- **Activity code:** K99 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $124,363
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-09-01 → 2021-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10005451

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10005451, The impact of dietary zinc deficiency on innate immunity to lung infection (5K99HL143441-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10005451. Licensed CC0.

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