# Characterization of TCS11 in Streptococcus pneumoniae

> **NIH NIH R21** · ST. JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL · 2024 · $273,000

## Abstract

Summary
A fundamental aspect of the success of Streptococcus pneumoniae as a human pathogen is the
ability to successfully transmit and infect new hosts. The mechanisms underlying transmission
are complex, with both bacterial and host factors playing important roles. It would be expected
the capacity is sense and response to the dynamic environment of the mammalian host is
critical for transmission, however the regulation underscoring this process remains poorly
understood. We hypothesize transmission is controlled via a specific, uncharacterized two-
component regulatory system (TCS11). This TCS has atypical operon structure for
pneumococcal TCSs, whereby two small hypothetical proteins and a putative transporter are in
the same operon and co-transcribed with TCS11. Preliminary data suggests is this operon is in
fact a TCS coupled to a bacteriocin secretion system that facilitates transmission via targeting
the resident bacterial flora, enabling pneumococcal transmission. We hypothesize that TCS11
mediates pneumococcal transmission via coordination of transmission factor gene expression
coupled with bacteriocin production to effectively compete against the respiratory microbiota at
the initial stages of epithelial colonization.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10887141
- **Project number:** 1R21AI178084-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** ST. JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Elisa B H Margolis
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $273,000
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-02-01 → 2025-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10887141

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10887141, Characterization of TCS11 in Streptococcus pneumoniae (1R21AI178084-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10887141. Licensed CC0.

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