# Building a Comprehensive Discovery System for Understanding Bacterial Multidrug Resistance and Pathogenesis Using Tn7-like Elements

> **NIH NIH R21** · CORNELL UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $180,496

## Abstract

Project Summary / Abstract
 Our large-scale bioinformatics analyses of bacterial genomes indicate that 10-20% contain diverse
active Tn7-like elements. We find that many previously enigmatic pathogenicity islands are explained
by these elements suggesting they are important and underappreciated vehicles of exchange across
diverse bacterial species.
 In this grant, we will develop computational methods to enumerate, classify and characterize Tn7-
like elements which will provide a comprehensive understanding of their roles in the evolution of
pathogenesis and acquisition of antibiotic resistance in bacteria. This includes determining the loci
where Tn7-like elements form genomic islands, the genetic information they mobilize, and the gene
products associated with mobilization. We will use this information to develop new tools based on
these elements to efficiently engineer diverse types of important bacteria. This will include tools to
insert genetic information into conserved neutral sites in the chromosomes of bacteria at high
efficiency, including new and emerging pathogens and commensal bacteria that lack efficient genetic
tools.
Relevance to Public Health: We will determine the molecular mechanisms that allow the evolution
of emerging pathogens and multi drug resistant bacteria though the transfer of genetic information.
This will lead to better treatments and strategies to limit the evolution of more serious pathogens.
Public health will also be served because we will be developing an important new genome
modification technique that will be broadly applicable in bacteria and possibly other kinds of
organisms.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10057522
- **Project number:** 1R21AI148941-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** CORNELL UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Joseph E Peters
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $180,496
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-06-11 → 2022-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10057522

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10057522, Building a Comprehensive Discovery System for Understanding Bacterial Multidrug Resistance and Pathogenesis Using Tn7-like Elements (1R21AI148941-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10057522. Licensed CC0.

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