# The critical roles of (p)ppGpp in homeostasis and antibiotic tolerance in Gram positive bacteria

> **NIH NIH R35** · UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON · 2021 · $373,143

## Abstract

Abstract
 Bacteria, from commensals to pathogens, utilize stress responses to maintain cellular
homeostasis in fluctuating environments, enabling cells to survive nutrient deprivation, antibiotic
treatments and host defenses. A well conserved key component of the bacterial stress response
is the small signaling molecule (p)ppGpp (guanosine tetraphosphate and pentaphosphate).
(p)ppGpp can be produced in almost all bacteria to mediate stress resistance and adaptation.
(p)ppGpp is also critical for the generation of persister cells that are metabolically dormant and
refractory to killing by antibiotics. However, (p)ppGpp regulation in Gram -positive bacteria,
including many human pathogens, is poorly understood. The overall rationale of the proposed
work is to unravel (p)ppGpp regulation in Gram-positive bacteria, which will provide important
insights into the bacterial stress response, antibiotic tolerance, and interactions between microbes
and hosts.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10158497
- **Project number:** 5R35GM127088-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
- **Principal Investigator:** Jue D. Wang
- **Activity code:** R35 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $373,143
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-05-01 → 2023-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10158497

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10158497, The critical roles of (p)ppGpp in homeostasis and antibiotic tolerance in Gram positive bacteria (5R35GM127088-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10158497. Licensed CC0.

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