# Glutarate metabolism in Salmonella

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT DAVIS · 2021 · $123,392

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Infection with the bacterial pathogen Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Tm)
is a common cause of inflammatory diarrhea. Intriguingly, intestinal inflammation drives
an expansion of the S. Tm population in the gut lumen. The molecular mechanisms that
support S. Tm colonization of the intestinal tract remain incompletely understood. Our
central hypothesis is that the inflamed gut constitutes a peculiar nutritional environment
that enables S. Tm to outgrow obligate anaerobic commensal bacteria. In this
application, we will investigate how inflammatory reactive oxygen and nitrogen species
are generating a diverse array of inflammation-associated small metabolites. We
hypothesize that reactive oxygen and nitrogen species oxidize sugars to smaller mono-
and dicarboxylic acids such as glutarate, which serve as nutrients for S. Tm to support
gut colonization. We will test key aspects of our hypothesis in mouse models of infection
and in vitro. We will pursue the following specific aims: 1.) Determine whether glutarate
and other carboxylic acids are generated as byproducts of RNS metabolism, and 2.
Investigate S. Tm glutarate metabolism in the context of infection. This work will advance
our understanding of how intestinal pathogens, such as S. Tm, adapt their carbon and
energy metabolism to colonize the mammalian intestinal tract. These studies are also
expected to advance our understanding of how reactive oxygen and nitrogen species
participate in diversity-generating reactions that shape the metabolite landscape during
gut inflammation.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10640495
- **Project number:** 7R21AI166263-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT DAVIS
- **Principal Investigator:** Sebastian E Winter
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $123,392
- **Award type:** 7
- **Project period:** 2022-07-01 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10640495

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10640495, Glutarate metabolism in Salmonella (7R21AI166263-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10640495. Licensed CC0.

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