A University of Texas–Arlington (UTA) researcher recently won a national grant award to continue his research on “superbugs” through mitochondria, discovering their defense mechanisms as well as new ways to boost immunity and improve infection resistance.
Over the next five years, UTA assistant professor of biology Mark Pellegrino will receive $1.8 million in grant funds from the National Institutes of Health to support this research. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria have proven increasingly problematic in recent years, leading to more life-threatening situations.
“Mitochondria are an obvious target for pathogens, especially given their role in programmed cell death,” Pellegrino said. “We plan to look at the way that pathogens interact with the mitochondria’s defense and repair system – ATFS-1 and the signaling pathway – with the long-term goal of developing new treatment options for patients.”
In addition to their role in programmed cell death, mitochondria also produce energy in cells and fuel the metabolisms of amino acids and lips. When attacked or weakened, a certain protein enters them and, through genetic manipulation, attempts to repair the mitochondria. It is this response Pellegrino seeks to expose.
The new research group, which Pellegrino will lead, will be located in UTA’s Science and Engineering Innovation and Research Building beginning in September.