# Targeting the functions of the gonococcal Type lV pilus

> **NIH NIH R01** · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $392,278

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
 Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Gc) is the sole causative agent of the sexually transmitted infection
gonorrhea. The rapid raise in antibiotic resistance coupled with a recent sharp increase in
reported cases in the U.S. have made this organism a target for the CDC, WHO and NIH. This
proposal will focus on the Gc Type IV pilus (T4p), which is an essential colonization and
virulence factor. We will determine how the T4p helps to protect Gc from polymorphonuclear
leucocyte (PMN) killing by altering iron homeostasis within the bacterial cell. Additionally, we will
perform a small molecule screen to identify molecules that can inhibit a protease necessary for
Gc T4p elaboration to develop novel pharmacologic agent for research and set the stage for the
possibility for new types of compounds that act against Gc and possibly other pathogenic
bacteria.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9972024
- **Project number:** 1R01AI146073-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Hank S. SEIFERT
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $392,278
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-08-01 → 2024-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9972024

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9972024, Targeting the functions of the gonococcal Type lV pilus (1R01AI146073-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9972024. Licensed CC0.

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