A single-cell map of Salmonella bacteria during infection
High-throughput single-cell RNA sequencing of bacteria to uncover cell states involved in pathogenesis
This project creates a detailed map of how Salmonella bacteria behave cell-by-cell during infection to reveal cells that cause disease or resist antibiotics.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dana-Farber Cancer Inst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11330489 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will tag individual bacterial transcripts using a method called proBac-seq so each Salmonella cell’s gene activity can be read like a barcode. They will run high-throughput single-cell sequencing on hundreds of thousands of bacterial cells and use the data to catalog distinct transcriptional states. The atlas will link specific bacterial cell states to traits like antibiotic resistance, sporulation, and virulence during infection. This approach can reveal rare or transient bacterial cell types that standard bulk tests miss.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with a confirmed Salmonella infection or who can provide clinical samples (for example stool or blood) during infection would be the best candidates to contribute samples.
Not a fit: People without Salmonella infection or with unrelated non-bacterial conditions are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to new drug targets or diagnostics to better treat and prevent persistent or drug-resistant Salmonella infections.
How similar studies have performed: The team has shown proBac-seq works in bacteria such as E. coli, Bacillus, and C. perfringens, but scaling it up to profile Salmonella during infection is a new application.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Dana-Farber Cancer Inst — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hormoz, Sahand — Dana-Farber Cancer Inst
- Study coordinator: Hormoz, Sahand
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.