# Functional Genomics of Pathogenic Enterobacteriaceae

> **NIH NIH U19** · BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE · 2024 · $1,434,869

## Abstract

Antimicrobial resistant (AMR) Enterobacteriaceae are a leading cause of worldwide mortality. Severe
infection results when species of this family translocate from the gastrointestinal tract to the
bloodstream. The research proposed herein aims to identify the genes and gene networks in
Enterobacteriaceae that drive translocation, characterize how the human host epithelium responds,
and determine if the commensal microbiota can counteract this process. In the first aim, hundreds of
clinical strains will be sequenced, annotated, and examined for their ability to transverse the epithelial
mucosal barrier in a human organoid model of infection. The empirically derived data will be used to
train a machine learning approach to infer virulence potential for genomic data alone. Predictions will
then be tested and validated in the organoid model. In the second aim, the complete host transcriptional
response to translocators and non-translocators will be mapped across several organoid lines.
Commensal species that antagonize translocators will be discovered and assessed for synergy with
host defenses to define the collective host-biota nexus that prevents disease. The project will yield new
vaccine targets against AMR bacteria, human risk-factors associated with severe infection, and
therapeutic probiotics that block translocation.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10855864
- **Project number:** 2U19AI144297-06
- **Recipient organization:** BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** ANTHONY W MARESSO
- **Activity code:** U19 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $1,434,869
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2019-04-15 → 2027-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10855864

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10855864, Functional Genomics of Pathogenic Enterobacteriaceae (2U19AI144297-06). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10855864. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*