# Vector and Host Contributions to the Regulation of E. Chaffeensis Gene Expression

> **NIH NIH R01** · KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $536,311

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY:
Rickettsial diseases caused by the Anaplasmataceae family pathogens of the genera Ehrlichia and
Anaplasma remain a growing public health concern for over three decades and are also the second
leading cause of tick- borne human infections in the USA and many parts of the world. Despite the
complex cellular environments of arthropods and vertebrates having sophisticated systems of defense,
the Anaplasmataceae pathogens evolved strategies to evade host clearance. Our prior studies
demonstrated that the differential expression in vertebrate and tick cells alters host responses leading
to variations in vertebrate host clearance/persistence. The central hypothesis of our competing
renewal application remains that E. chaffeensis differentially regulates its gene expression in response
to host cell environmental signals and that the host cell-specific gene expression is essential for
pathogen’s continued survival in vertebrate and tick cell environments. We have made substantial
progress in addressing the three specific aims of the previous funded project. The progress from the
prior funded cycle included numerous peer-reviewed publications, which paved the way for additional
exciting new directions for this proposed competing renewal application. Goals set for the three new
specific aims of this renewal application have a strong premise, as supported with published research
results and with additional unpublished preliminary data. The extensive novel data generated with the
previous R01 grant support formed a strong foundation for the following proposed three specific aims
of this renewal application. 1) Characterize sequence-specific DNA binding proteins (DBPs) in E.
chaffeensis impacting RNA polymerase function in support of understanding the pathogen’s host-
specific differential gene expression. 2) Characterize the functional significance of genes identified as
essential for E. chaffeensis in vivo growth. 3) Mutagenesis and in vivo screening in defining genomic
regions critical for the bacterial pathogenesis in vertebrate and tick hosts. The proposed specific aims
are a logical extension of the substantial progress we have made during the previous funding cycle.
The project goals have a strong scientific premise, as they are supported with the research data
reported in many peer-reviewed publications and with the inclusion of additional preliminary data.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10212207
- **Project number:** 5R01AI070908-12
- **Recipient organization:** KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** ROMAN R. GANTA
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $536,311
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2007-12-15 → 2024-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10212207

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10212207, Vector and Host Contributions to the Regulation of E. Chaffeensis Gene Expression (5R01AI070908-12). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10212207. Licensed CC0.

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