# Project 2

> **NIH NIH P20** · UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA · 2021 · $253,799

## Abstract

Human giardiasis, caused by the protozoan parasite Giardia duodenalis, is one of the most prevalent enteric
parasitic protozoan infections globally, with prevalence rates ranging from 2-5% in the developed world and 20-
30% in the developing countries. Human infections are initiated by the ingestion of quadrinucleate cysts along
with contaminated food or water and the vegetative forms of the parasite or trophozoites colonize the proximal
portions of the small intestine, especially the duodenum and jejunum. Symptomatic infections in humans are
characterized by gastrointestinal symptoms that may include abdominal cramps, flatulence, diarrhea, nausea,
with a malabsorption syndrome occurring in clinical and subclinical cases and may result in failure to thrive and/or
stunted growth, especially in children. Most cases of human giardiasis are self-limiting and are resolved
spontaneously within weeks following exposure in immunocompetent individuals, indicating the development of
an effective anti-Giardia immunity sufficient for the clearance of G. duodenalis infections in humans. We have
found non-redundant functions for chemokine/chemokine receptor signaling pathways in major intestinal sub-
compartments as well as across the entire intestinal tract. Consistent with the microenvironmental differences
between the small intestine and the colon, the differential expression of bile acids (BAs), as the end-products of
cholesterol catabolism, represents one of the major microenvironmental cues shaping intestinal homeostasis
and inflammation in these two main anatomical sub-compartments. Using a mouse model of human giardiasis,
we will investigate the roles played by the BA in the compartmentalized immune responses along the intestinal
tract. Successful completion of these studies will improve our understanding of the mechanisms by which
immune cells are imprinted and homed to the intestinal sub-compartments and will further provide insights into
the development of novel preventive and therapeutic targets in the context of infections and non-infectious (i.e.
IBD, celiac disease) settings in humans.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10270979
- **Project number:** 2P20GM113123-06
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA
- **Principal Investigator:** Shahram Solaymani-Mohammadi
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $253,799
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2016-05-13 → 2026-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10270979

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10270979, Project 2 (2P20GM113123-06). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10270979. Licensed CC0.

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