# Mechanisms of Gonococcal Pilin Antigenic and Phase Variation

> **NIH NIH R37** · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $453,498

## Abstract

The pathogenic Neisseria are obligate human pathogens that rely on several antigenic variation systems to
continually colonize and cause disease in the human population. This proposal will continue our studies
into the molecular mechanisms used to promote pilin antigenic variation in Neisseria gonorrhoeae. High
frequency changes in the pilin amino acid sequence are mediated by gene conversion reactions between
one of 18 silent pilin copies and the single expressed pilin gene. In the next funding period we will continue
to conduct our field-leading investigations into the molecular mechanisms require to effect high frequency
gene conversion within the context of a bacterial chromosome. The results of these innovative studies will
have great impact on the study of Neisserial pathogenesis, mechanisms of antigenic variation, DNA
recombination and replication, and the role of alternative DNA structures on molecular processes in all
cells.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9854869
- **Project number:** 5R37AI033493-27
- **Recipient organization:** NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Hank S. SEIFERT
- **Activity code:** R37 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $453,498
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1994-05-01 → 2023-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9854869

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9854869, Mechanisms of Gonococcal Pilin Antigenic and Phase Variation (5R37AI033493-27). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9854869. Licensed CC0.

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