# NEUTROPHILS AND BACTERIAL PHOSPHOLIPID DEGRADATION

> **NIH NIH R01** · NEW YORK UNIVERSITY · 1991 · $217,589

## Abstract

This proposal concerns the determinants an} biological role of the
bacterial phospholipid (PL) degradation that accompanies the
bactericidal action of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) and of
potent membrane-active bactericidal PMN proteins purified in this
laboratory.

Our specific aims are to examine:  (1) The molecular determinants
of the action of selective phospholipases A2 against phospholipase
A-less mutants of E. coli killed b/ these purified PMN proteins.
(2) The determinants of bacterial PL degradation during
phagocytosis by PMN isolated from and together with other (soluble)
elements in inflammatory exudates.  (3) The role of bacterial PL
degradation in the overall digestion and structural disorganization
of the bacterium.

These aims have their origin in our earlier work and their pursuit
will therefore rest heavily on well-tested methods used in this
laboratory, including:  collection of PMN and inflammatory
exudates; functional assays of PMN (protein)-bacteria interactions
such as phagocytosis, bacterial killing, bacterial PL degradation
and  biosynthesis; purification and chemical modification of
proteins; use of bacterial mutants.  Recombinant DNA methods will
also be developed to facilitate study of the structural
determinants of phospholipase A2 action in bacterial digestion.

The long-term objectives of this proposal concern two fundamental
questions:  (1) What regulates the action of defined intrinsic and
exogenous phospholipases on the PL of natural membranes?  (2) What
determines the extent of digestion of bacteria killed by
phagocytes?

The proposed studies are likely to provide new insights related to
the function of host defenses in infection and of membranes in
general.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3128023
- **Project number:** 5R01AI018571-10
- **Recipient organization:** NEW YORK UNIVERSITY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** NX9PXMKW5KW8
- **Principal Investigator:** JERROLD P WEISS
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1991
- **Award amount:** $217,589
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1985-09-01 → 1993-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3128023

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3128023, NEUTROPHILS AND BACTERIAL PHOSPHOLIPID DEGRADATION (5R01AI018571-10). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3128023. Licensed CC0.

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