U19AI172713

Systems Epigenomics of Persistent Bloodstream Infection - Project Abstract

Persistent bloodstream infections are life-threatening infectious disease emergencies posing significant challenges to effective treatment. Such infections occur when a pathogen is susceptible to an anti-infective agent in vitro but is not cleared from the bloodstream in vivo when that anti-infective agent is used appropriately. As a result, anti-infective usage increases, accelerating alarming increases in anti-infective resistance. This vicious cycle of persistence driving anti-infective escalation driving resistance is an NIH high-priority concern.

Bloodstream infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus (SA) or Candida albicans (CA) are increasingly common. Of urgent concern, up to 35% of patients with methicillin-resistant SA (MRSA) persistent bacteremia succumb even on gold-standard therapy. Likewise, in patients with hematogenously disseminated candidiasis (HDC), mortality is 39% overall and 47% in those in the intensive care unit, despite appropriate treatment.

A disease mystery is central to such infections: the causative pathogen is susceptible to antimicrobials in laboratory testing—but not in the human being. Importantly, persistence reflects a unique type of treatment-refractory infections distinct from classical antibiotic resistance. Rather, persistent MRSA or CA are elusive: they adapt to host immune responses and antibiotic stresses uniquely in vivo and then revert quickly in vitro.

Presently, there are few therapeutic options for persistent MRSA or CA bloodstream infections. Hence, there is a critical, unmet need to understand the unique interactions of the human, pathogen, and therapeutic factors driving persistence outcomes.

Based on our extensive preliminary data, we believe that persistent infections caused by MRSA and CA result from a three-way interaction of the pathogen, host immune response, and antimicrobial agent in vivo. We hypothesize that persistent isolates: 1) have specific epigenomes to enable persistence; 2) subvert innate immune programming and memory for immune evasion; 3) evoke non-protective or maladaptive immune responses; and 4) exploit contextual immunity as persistence reservoirs.

We further posit that conventional approaches to study this clinically urgent phenomenon are insufficient to understand it. We have developed three independent but synergistic research projects to overcome these limitations. Each project brings proven strengths and innovative approaches to bear on specific aims that synergize via a systems-based approach supported by outstanding technology, bioinformatics, and computational cores.

Here, we will use state-of-the-art technologies to comprehensively analyze the genetics and epigenetics of pathogens and the host immune system in the context of antimicrobial therapy in laboratory studies and experimental models of infection. In turn, these data will be analyzed using powerful bioinformatics and computational methods to detect hidden patterns within large complex datasets.

By understanding these factors and their interactions, new approaches to identify and treat high-risk patients can be developed and applied to improve and save lives. These goals are ideally aligned with priorities of the National Institutes of Health and Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.

Lundquist Institute For Biomedical Innovation At Harbor-Ucla Medical Center

TO ASSIST PUBLIC AND PRIVATE NONPROFIT INSTITUTIONS AND INDIVIDUALS TO ESTABLISH, EXPAND AND IMPROVE BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH AND RESEARCH TRAINING IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND RELATED AREAS, TO CONDUCT DEVELOPMENTAL RESEARCH, TO PRODUCE AND TEST RESEARCH MATERIALS. TO ASSIST PUBLIC, PRIVATE AND COMMERCIAL INSTITUTIONS TO CONDUCT DEVELOPMENTAL RESEARCH, TO PRODUCE AND TEST RESEARCH MATERIALS, TO PROVIDE RESEARCH SERVICES AS REQUIRED BY THE AGENCY FOR PROGRAMS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES, AND CONTROLLING DISEASE CAUSED BY INFECTIOUS OR PARASITIC AGENTS, ALLERGIC AND IMMUNOLOGIC DISEASES AND RELATED AREAS. PROJECTS RANGE FROM STUDIES OF MICROBIAL PHYSIOLOGY AND ANTIGENIC STRUCTURE TO COLLABORATIVE TRIALS OF EXPERIMENTAL DRUGS AND VACCINES, MECHANISMS OF RESISTANCE TO ANTIBIOTICS AS WELL AS RESEARCH DEALING WITH EPIDEMIOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS IN HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS OR COMMUNITY POPULATIONS AND PROGRESS IN ALLERGIC AND IMMUNOLOGIC DISEASES. BECAUSE OF THIS DUAL FOCUS, THE PROGRAM ENCOMPASSES BOTH BASIC RESEARCH AND CLINICAL RESEARCH. SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR) PROGRAM EXPANDS AND IMPROVES PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION IN BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH. THE SBIR PROGRAM INTENDS TO INCREASE AND FACILITATE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, TO INCREASE SMALL BUSINESS PARTICIPATION IN FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND TO FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION. THE SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER (STTR) PROGRAM STIMULATES AND FOSTERS SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION THROUGH COOPERATIVE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CARRIED OUT BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, TO FOSTER TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, TO INCREASE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND TO FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION. RESEARCH CAREER DEVELOPMENT AWARDS SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENTISTS DURING THE FORMATIVE STAGES OF THEIR CAREERS. INDIVIDUAL NATIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE AWARDS (NRSAS) ARE MADE DIRECTLY TO APPROVE APPLICANTS FOR RESEARCH TRAINING IN SPECIFIED BIOMEDICAL SHORTAGE AREAS. IN ADDITION, INSTITUTIONAL NATIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE AWARDS ARE MADE TO ENABLE INSTITUTIONS TO SELECT AND MAKE AWARDS TO INDIVIDUALS TO RECEIVE TRAINING UNDER THE AEGIS OF THEIR INSTITUTIONAL PROGRAM.

93.855 - Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) [HHS - NIH]

Torrance, California 905022006 United States

Single Zip Code

Systems Biology for Infectious Diseases (U19 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) (RFA-AI-21-065)

Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased 203% from $2,304,639 to $6,975,556.