# Sensitive and quantitative cytokine detection in bats

> **NIH NIH R03** · COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $149,088

## Abstract

Project Summary / Abstract
Bats have gained attention in recent years as reservoir or suspected reservoir hosts of many high-impact human
pathogenic viruses that cause outbreaks and epidemics with high case-fatality rates. Genome and transcriptome
analyses suggest the immune systems of bats are substantially similar to those of other mammals. However
differences in the overall immunological response to viral exposure exist—allowing for bats to remain resistant
viral reservoirs, while other mammals are highly susceptible. Due to the dearth of available antibody reagents to
monitor the abundance of cytokines during infection, little research into their immune systems and responses
has been conducted. Gene expression analyses can provide some indication of cytokine levels, however
quantitation of immune proteins at multiple time-points during infection, in conjunction with end-point RNA
analysis, would be ideal. The lack of available bat antibody reagents poses a unique challenge in fully
characterizing the immune response to infectious agents in this animal model. To overcome this hurdle, we aim
to generate highly sensitive and specific targeted mass spectrometry assays to detect and quantify immune
proteins in complex matrices, such as biological fluids and tissue homogenates, from naïve bats and those
infected with virus.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10108842
- **Project number:** 1R03AI156632-01
- **Recipient organization:** COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Nicole Ann Kruh-Garcia
- **Activity code:** R03 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $149,088
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-02-10 → 2023-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10108842

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10108842, Sensitive and quantitative cytokine detection in bats (1R03AI156632-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10108842. Licensed CC0.

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