# Role of sensory neurons in host resistance to enteric bacterial pathogens

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT DAVIS · 2021 · $196,250

## Abstract

Project Summary
Host-microbial interactions are a critical determinant of health. In the gastrointestinal tract, there
are several overlapping mechanisms of host defense that function together to prevent entry of
pathogens into the body. These protective mechanisms are provided through the coordinated
efforts of intestinal epithelial cells and immune cells in the lamina propria. Although sensory
neurons and neurotransmitters are known to exacerbate intestinal inflammation, it has only
recently been established that sensory neurons can suppress host response to pathogenic
bacteria in the skin and lung.
Unlike these other sites, our preliminary data indicates that sensory neurons are key to host-
protective immunity to enteric bacterial pathogens. The overall goals of this project are to
determine precisely define the role of the neuro-immune communication in response to enteric
bacterial pathogens such as Citrobacter rodentium. This will be achieved by selective ablation of
sensory neurons, and use of knockout mice with targeted deficiency in the polymodal
nociceptive receptor TRPV1 (SA1.1). To determine if enteric pathogens can directly activate
these neurons, an in vitro approach will be used with primary cultures of sensory neurons
(SA1.2). The role of the predominant sensory neurotransmitter, Substance P (Tac1), during
enteric infection will be assessed using bone marrow chimera approach with WT or Tac1 KO
mice as donors and recipients (SA2.1). As Substance P is a potent chemoattractant that can
induce chemokine and adhesion molecule expression, the role of this molecule in mediating T-
cell recruitment will be assessed (SA2.2). Together, these proposed studies will decipher the
contribution of the sensory nervous system and a unique immune cell population to mucosal
host defense.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10207404
- **Project number:** 5R21AI148188-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT DAVIS
- **Principal Investigator:** Colin Reardon
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $196,250
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-07-01 → 2023-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10207404

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10207404, Role of sensory neurons in host resistance to enteric bacterial pathogens (5R21AI148188-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10207404. Licensed CC0.

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