# Genetics and Genomics Core

> **NIH NIH U19** · UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT SCH OF MED/DNT · 2022 · $306,227

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
The use of molecular epidemiology and population genetics has revolutionized the ways in which
we study infectious diseases and, in particular, pathogen diversity. This revolution has been
facilitated by the explosive increase in available genetic data, primarily due to second-generation
sequencing. Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum (TPA) genetic data will play an integral role in
the completion of all three CRC Projects. To ensure the quality and robustness of this data across
projects, the CRC will support the UNC/Masaryk University Genetics and Genomics Core
(GGC). The GGC is a multi-institution core, led by the University of North Carolina, that is
designed to enable the CRC to apply state-of-the-art, next-generation sequencing, and
bioinformatic tools to catalog the sequence diversity of TPA outer membrane proteins (OMPs).
Categorization of this diversity is necessary for developing a broadly protective, globally effective
syphilis vaccine using immunogenic OMPs as vaccine antigens. In order to support TPA vaccine
development, the GGC will: 1) provide laboratory support for genetic analysis of clinical isolates
in order to define the diversity of the TPA “OMPeome”, 2) provide bioinformatic processing and
data management for the CRC, including generating cleaned data to all the CRC Projects for
analysis and disseminating this data to the scientific community, 3) train CRC investigators in
genomic methods and facilitate cross-CRC training, and 4) develop novel tools to advance TPA
genomics. The GGC has developed: 1) a detailed plan to ensure efficient collaboration between
the core and CRC Projects, 2) processes to ensure the rigor and reproducibility of the data, and 3)
plans for the dissemination of data, bioinformatic tools and laboratory methods to the scientific
community.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10399445
- **Project number:** 5U19AI144177-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT SCH OF MED/DNT
- **Principal Investigator:** Jonathan Boyd Parr
- **Activity code:** U19 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $306,227
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-05-01 → 2024-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10399445

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10399445, Genetics and Genomics Core (5U19AI144177-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10399445. Licensed CC0.

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