AI-designed antimicrobial peptide to fight drug-resistant infections
Official title: Targeting ESKAPE pathogens with AI-designed antimicrobial peptide
Funded at Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ · NIH-11461201 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research team is using artificial intelligence to optimize tiny protein-like molecules (peptides) to kill tough bacteria that often resist last-resort antibiotics.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Blacksburg, United States) |
| Project start | July 9, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $808,607 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AI195944-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11461201 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are patients with infections caused by resistant organisms or those at high risk for such infections who would be eligible for future trials of peptide therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Not all patients will benefit if the infection is not caused by the target organisms or if peptide therapies are not yet clinically ready.
What this research studies
This project combines AI, chemistry, and biology to improve antimicrobial peptides against dangerous pathogens like Acinetobacter baumannii and other ESKAPE bacteria. By refining peptide design and testing them in lab models, the team aims to overcome issues such as toxicity, instability, and high production costs. The goal is to create safer, more effective peptides that work under challenging conditions and could become new treatment options. If successful, this work could pave the way for faster development of peptide-based therapies for resistant infections.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from new peptide-based treatments for resistant infections.
How similar studies have gone: Previous peptide approaches showed promise but faced challenges in Gram-negative bacteria; this project extends prior work with AI-guided optimization.
Where this research is happening
-
Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ
Blacksburg, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Seleem, Mohamed — Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ
- Study coordinator: Seleem, Mohamed
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.