# OspC and its role in defining host range and dissemination properties

> **NIH NIH R01** · VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $577,756

## Abstract

Project summary: Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease in the northern
hemisphere. The incidence of Lyme disease is steadily increasing as the Ixodes tick population
expands. This proposal will identify the critical functional determinants of outer surface protein C
(OspC), an essential virulence factor. In addition, we will determine how sequence variation in
OspC influences infectivity and dissemination properties. Cutting edge genetic approaches will
be employed to dissect the role that OspC plays in the pathobiology of the Lyme disease
spirochetes. The outcome of these analyses will also advance ongoing efforts to develop
vaccines and diagnostic antigens for use in humans.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10345736
- **Project number:** 1R01AI165876-01
- **Recipient organization:** VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** RICHARD T MARCONI
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $577,756
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-08-01 → 2026-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10345736

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10345736, OspC and its role in defining host range and dissemination properties (1R01AI165876-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10345736. Licensed CC0.

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