The Department of Microbiology and Immunology is proud to announce that Associate Professor Mary Weber, PhD, has received a competitive renewal of her R01 grant from the National Institutes of Health to investigate how Chlamydia trachomatis inclusion membrane proteins manipulate host vesicular trafficking pathways.

Chlamydia trachomatis is the leading cause of bacterial sexually transmitted infections worldwide and can lead to serious reproductive health complications, including pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, and infertility. Despite its clinical significance, the molecular strategies this pathogen uses to hijack host cellular processes remain incompletely understood.

Dr. Weber’s renewed project will focus on the functional characterization of the C. trachomatis inclusion membrane proteins CT229 and IncC. These proteins are believed to coordinate interactions with both host and bacterial factors to regulate vesicle fusion, maintain inclusion stability, and evade immune detection. By elucidating these mechanisms, the research aims to uncover critical insights that could inform the development of novel therapeutic strategies against C. trachomatis infections.

The department congratulates Dr. Weber on this outstanding achievement and looks forward to the discoveries her work will bring.