# Roles of Archaea in infectious disease

> **NIH NIH R03** · UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA · 2020 · $80,750

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The human gastrointestinal (GI) tract harbors trillions of microbes that are collectively referred to as the
microbiota. The resident microbiota play complex roles in human health. For example, the microbiota may
effectively compete for nutrients against invading pathogens and thereby act as a barrier to limit or prevent
infections. Conversely, certain members of the microbiota may enhance pathogen infection by producing
metabolites that enhance growth and/or influence virulence gene expression. Because of the interplay between
bacterial pathogens and the microbiota, manipulation of the microbiota may be an innovative means to treat
infectious diseases. However, a more complete understanding of the specific roles of distinct members is
required. To date, most studies have focused on microbes belonging to the domain Bacteria, which comprise
the majority of microbes in the GI tract. Significantly, the microbiota is also comprised of microbes belonging to
the domain Archaea. Of the Archaea, the methane-producing methanogens are the predominant members.
Methanogens are present in the GI tract of nearly 100% of the world’s population and have been proposed to
play an important role in human health and/or disease. Despite this fact, the functional contributions of
methanogens to human health are virtually unexplored. Accordingly, Specific Aim 1 will assess how inhibiting
methanogenic activity in vivo influences disease progression by an invading bacterial pathogen. Specific Aim 2
will investigate the impact of methanogens on enteric infection using a defined microbiota.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9935034
- **Project number:** 5R03AI146888-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Melissa Kendall
- **Activity code:** R03 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $80,750
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-05-24 → 2021-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9935034

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9935034, Roles of Archaea in infectious disease (5R03AI146888-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-11 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9935034. Licensed CC0.

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