# Protein secretion in bacterial pathogens

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · 2021 · $396,250

## Abstract

Project Summary
 This project brings together structural, biochemical, proteomic and genetic expertise at UCSF to
provide a detailed understanding of the structure and post-translational regulation of a key virulence factor in
Mycobacterium tuberculosis. A hallmark of virulent, intracellular bacteria is their use of specialized secretion
systems to inject proteins into mammalian cells. Multiple such systems are known in Gram-negative bacteria
(termed the Type I-VI and VIII-IX) systems), but only one is found exclusively in Gram-positive bacteria: the
type VII secretion (T7S) system. Mycobacterium tuberculosis uses multiple T7S systems to promote infection
through secretion of effectors. In fact, the main genetic difference between the harmless vaccine strain BCG
and pathogenic M. tuberculosis is the loss of the ESX-1 T7S system. T7S is also essential for abscess
formation in Staphylococcus aureus and other pathogens may require T7S for virulence, as these systems are
broadly conserved in Gram-positive bacteria. In this proposal we aim to build on our preliminary data regarding
the basic mechanisms of T7S and unravel the biochemical and structural foundations of this complex biological
machine.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10134992
- **Project number:** 5R01AI128214-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO
- **Principal Investigator:** CAROL Anne GROSS
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $396,250
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-05-08 → 2023-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10134992

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10134992, Protein secretion in bacterial pathogens (5R01AI128214-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10134992. Licensed CC0.

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