# A signaling pathway governing growth and antibiotic sensitivity in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

> **NIH NIH R21** · BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL · 2020 · $221,250

## Abstract

Abstract
 Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important opportunistic pathogen of humans. It is the principal cause of
morbidity and mortality in Cystic Fibrosis (CF) patients and a major cause of hospital-acquired pneumonia. We
are proposing to study a conserved putative signaling pathway that we have shown is critical for cell growth
and for resistance to aminoglycosides in P. aeruginosa. At the center of this pathway are the PA2797 and
PA2798 proteins, about which relatively little is known. In Aim 1 we propose to test the hypothesis that PA2797
enhances the intrinsic resistance of the organism to aminoglycosides by functioning as a so-called anti-anti-σ
factor. In particular, we will attempt to identify genes that are positively regulated by PA2797 and that
specifically contribute to aminoglycoside resistance. In Aim 2 we will determine whether PA2797 and PA2798
govern the growth of P. aeruginosa by modulating the interaction between a component of the nitrogen-related
phosphotransferase system and a small protein we have identified. Our proposed studies have the potential to
reveal how a novel signal transduction pathway promotes the growth and antibiotic resistance of an important
pathogen. Moreover, because cells lacking PA2797 or PA2798 are defective for growth and are considerably
more susceptible to the bactericidal effects of tobramycin, the frontline antibiotic used in the treatment of CF
patients, our proposed studies could have implications for the development of adjunctive therapies for treating
P. aeruginosa infections.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9937637
- **Project number:** 5R21AI146515-02
- **Recipient organization:** BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** SIMON L DOVE
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $221,250
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-06-01 → 2022-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9937637

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9937637, A signaling pathway governing growth and antibiotic sensitivity in Pseudomonas aeruginosa (5R21AI146515-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9937637. Licensed CC0.

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