# Approaches for genetic manipulation of Naegleria fowleri

> **NIH NIH R21** · CLEMSON UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $228,750

## Abstract

Project Summary
The goal of this proposal is to develop molecular tools and approaches for the study of the
pathogenic free-living amoeba Naegleria fowleri. These currently do not exist. This amoeba
is the causative agent of primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), an almost invariable
lethal brain infection. The lack of useful drugs for the treatment of this infection emphasizes
the need to develop better therapeutic agents for amoebae infections. The lack of
understanding of gene function in the parasite remains a major hurdle in target-based drug
development campaigns. Here, we propose to address this problem by developing
approaches for gene silencing and ablation by RNAi and CRISP/Cas9-mediate gene editing
and transgene expression. These approaches will serve as an important first step in
understanding both gene function and essentiality, key to early-stage drug discovery efforts.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10762481
- **Project number:** 5R21AI175463-02
- **Recipient organization:** CLEMSON UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** JAMES Culvin MORRIS
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $228,750
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-01-09 → 2025-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10762481

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10762481, Approaches for genetic manipulation of Naegleria fowleri (5R21AI175463-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10762481. Licensed CC0.

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