# Impact of Heme During Group A Streptococcus Infection

> **NIH NIH R56** · GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY · 2023 · $647,248

## Abstract

Project Summary
The overarching goal of this collaborative project is to define the role of heme in the
pathophysiology of the Group A Streptococcus (GAS) with the aim of developing new treatment
modalities. In the human host, heme has two roles: both a critical nutrient and a noxious agent.
Thus, for the β-hemolytic GAS, heme management requires a delicate balancing act. We
hypothesize that GAS carefully monitors the levels of heme in both the extracellular and
intracellular compartments and accordingly deploys heme uptake and use or detoxification and
repair pathways. Furthermore, we propose that GAS uses heme-sensitive regulatory proteins to
influence the expression of both iron-homeostasis and virulence genes. In this application, two
experienced GAS researchers (MPIs Eichenbaum and McIver) will combine molecular genetic and
biochemical methods with transcriptome studies and genome-wide mutagenesis screens to
identify and characterize GAS mechanisms for heme management and establish their role in GAS
pathogenesis; We describe key heme uptake pathways and GAS pathophysiology (Aim 1);
characterize the mechanisms that facilitate heme resistance in the GAS envelope (Aim 2); and
analyze the regulatory framework that orchestrates GAS adaptation according to environmental
heme (Aim 3). This project will help reveal the fundamental impact of heme in the
pathophysiology of a major human pathogen.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10825476
- **Project number:** 1R56AI173230-01
- **Recipient organization:** GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** ZEHAVA EICHENBAUM
- **Activity code:** R56 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $647,248
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2023-06-02 → 2025-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10825476

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10825476, Impact of Heme During Group A Streptococcus Infection (1R56AI173230-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10825476. Licensed CC0.

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