# "Role of the cytotoxin, CptA, from the emerging bacterial pathogen Sneathia vaginalis, in pathogenesis"

> **NIH NIH R21** · VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $194,063

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY:
Sneathia vaginalis (Sv) is emerging as a pathogen that is significantly associated with preterm birth and can
cause numerous infections including amnionitis, osteoarthritis, meningitis, bacteremia, and urethritis. Due to its
fastidious nature, it has only recently been recognized as a pathogen through the use of DNA-based methods.
Because it has been under-recognized as a pathogen, the biology and the pathogenesis of S. vaginalis remain
almost entirely uncharacterized. We have identified a hemolytic and cytopathogenic toxin produced by S.
vaginalis that we have named CptA. Antiserum against CptA abrogates traversal of Sv across intact human fetal
membranes suggesting that the toxin plays a role in pathogenesis. This project has three main goals. The first
is to assess the maternal and fetal antibody response to CptA during natural colonization/infection. The second
is to establish the role of CptA in traversal of and damage to fetal membranes by Sv. The third is to determine
whether the association between Sv and preterm birth is causal by developing a mouse model of Sv infection
during pregnancy. pathogenesis Characterization of this novel pore-forming toxin will break ground in our
understanding of this emerging pathogen.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10734786
- **Project number:** 5R21AI166168-02
- **Recipient organization:** VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** KIMBERLY Kay JEFFERSON
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $194,063
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-11-04 → 2025-10-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10734786

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10734786, "Role of the cytotoxin, CptA, from the emerging bacterial pathogen Sneathia vaginalis, in pathogenesis" (5R21AI166168-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10734786. Licensed CC0.

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