# Understanding pathogen and host determinants of the natural history of N. gonorrhoeae infection

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · 2024 · $676,248

## Abstract

Abstract:
Rising antibiotic resistance in N. gonorrhoeae poses a serious, global public health threat.
Effective control of N. gonorrhoeae is hampered by asymptomatic infections that allow
transmission of the bacteria to uninfected individuals and immune evasion by the bacteria that
has limited vaccine development efforts. Understanding the natural history of asymptomatic
infection and the immunologic responses that are responsible for clearance of infection. We
propose a longitudinal study with close surveillance and of follow up individuals with recent N.
gonorrhoeae infection who are at high risk for re-infection. This study will provide a rich data
set to understand pathogen exposure and infection outcome. It will also provide a set of biologic
specimens to study the pathogen and host factors that contribute to infection clearance as well
as asymptomatic carriage and/or progression to symptomatic infection. We will conduct
analysis of anti-N. gonorrhoeae antibody and cellular immune responses to inform correlates of
protective immunity against gonorrhea. Combined this project will provide important new
information that will contribute to public health and vaccine development efforts to reduce the
spread of N. gonorrhoeae.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10874653
- **Project number:** 5R01AI176997-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL
- **Principal Investigator:** JOSEPH A DUNCAN
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $676,248
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-06-23 → 2028-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10874653

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10874653, Understanding pathogen and host determinants of the natural history of N. gonorrhoeae infection (5R01AI176997-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10874653. Licensed CC0.

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