Research Initiation Award: The Characterization of IL-6 on Cystic Fibrosis Airway Epithelial Cells Membrane Integrity and Bacterial Clearance

研究启动奖为传统黑人学院和大学的初级和中期职业教师提供支持，他们正在建立新的研究项目或重新指导和重建现有的研究项目。期望该奖项有助于提高教师的研究能力和效率，改善所在机构的研究和教学，并使本科生参与研究经验。授予鲍伊州立大学的奖项有可能在几个领域扩大影响。提出的工作将使研究人员了解上皮细胞的功能，更好地理解细菌的生存能力和膜内聚。本科生将接受细胞生物学、生物化学、免疫学和微生物学方面的培训。这个本科研究机会将使学生发展市场技能，这将使全球科学劳动力多样化。本研究的目的是确定IL-6在囊性纤维化（CF）气道上皮细胞在囊性纤维化（CF）感染后维持膜完整性和有效细菌清除能力中的作用。本项目的具体目的是：(1)表征IL-6对感染CF气道上皮细胞的膜完整性的作用；(2)研究白细胞介素-6对CF气道上皮细胞内细菌活力和芽孢杆菌生长的影响。提出的方法包括利用极化上皮细胞的细菌感染模型、经上皮电子抗性技术、上皮转移试验、荧光显微镜和IL-6R药理学抑制剂。这项研究的结果将阐明在富含IL-6的环境中，特别是在上皮细胞生物学方面的第一道防线。IL-6对维持不妥协屏障的作用是一个关键的发现，它将改变我们在细胞生物学、免疫学和微生物学领域的知识广度，使其对科学的贡献成为跨学科的。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Research Initiation Awards provide support for junior and mid-career faculty at Historically Black Colleges and Universities who are building new research programs or redirecting and rebuilding existing research programs. It is expected that the award helps to further the faculty member's research capability and effectiveness, improve research and teaching at the home institution, and involves undergraduate students in research experiences. The award to Bowie State University has potential to broaden impacts in several areas. The proposed work will allow the researchers who understand epithelial cell function and better comprehend bacterial viability and membrane cohesion. undergraduate students will receive training in cell biology, biochemistry, immunology and microbiology. This undergraduate research opportunity will allow students to develop marketable skills which will diversify the global scientific workforce.The goal of this study is to identify the role of IL-6 in Cystic Fibrosis (CF) airway epithelial cells’ ability to maintain membrane integrity and effective bacterial clearance following B. cenocepacia infection. The specific aims of this project are to:(1) characterize the role of IL-6 on membrane integrity of B. cenocepacia infected CF airway epithelial cells; and (2) investigate the role of IL-6 on bacterial viability and growth of B. cenocepacia within CF airway epithelial cells. Methodologies proposed include utilization of bacterial infection models on polarized epithelial cells, transepithelial electronic resistance techniques, epithelial transmigration assays, fluorescence microscopy, and IL-6R pharmacological inhibitors. Outcomes of this study will shed light onto the first line of defense within IL-6 rich environments, especially regarding epithelial cell biology. The effect of IL-6 on maintaining uncompromised barriers is a key finding that will transform our breadth of knowledge within cell biology, immunology, and microbiology, making it interdisciplinary in its contributions to science.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.