# Genetics Core for Mucin Degrading Bacteria

> **NIH NIH P01** · BECKMAN RESEARCH INSTITUTE/CITY OF HOPE · 2024 · $123,249

## Abstract

SUMMARY CORE B: Genetics Core for Mucin Degrading Bacteria
The intestinal microbiota comprises diverse bacteria, a subset of which are capable of
degrading the host-derived mucins that are a primary component of the intestinal mucus layer.
Excessive erosion of the mucus layer is linked to poor health outcomes in many contexts,
including patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplant, where it is associated with the
development of neutropenic fever. As an essential component of the P01, we will develop a
Genetics Core for Mucin Degrading Bacteria. The Core will support the three related projects in
investigating the mechanisms and regulation of mucin degradation by the prevalent mucin
degraders Akkermansia and Bacteroides spp. Our lab has specialized expertise in the genetic
manipulation of these strictly anaerobic bacteria and contributed to developing the first set of
genetic tools for Akkermansia. The primary functions of the Core will be to: (1) generate mutants
in bacterial isolates and apply high-throughput genetic screens, (2) provide mutants in specific
genes of interest and engineer strains for recombinant protein expression, (3) provide analysis
of mucin degradation using fluorescently labelled glycans as well as human colonic mucin
reagent, and (4) support bioinformatic analysis of metagenomic sequencing data, including
strain identification and comparative genomics, as well as provide access to external glycan
expertise. We will combine the results from the individual projects to develop a database of
mucin degrading enzymes that will serve as a resource to the research community. By providing
strains and reagents to gain a mechanistic understanding of bacterial mucin degradation, the
proposed Core will be integral to the three proposed projects

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10935663
- **Project number:** 1P01HL170046-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** BECKMAN RESEARCH INSTITUTE/CITY OF HOPE
- **Principal Investigator:** Lauren Elizabeth Davey
- **Activity code:** P01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $123,249
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-09-21 → 2029-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10935663

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10935663, Genetics Core for Mucin Degrading Bacteria (1P01HL170046-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10935663. Licensed CC0.

---

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