Antibiotics and how they kill tough Gram-negative bacteria
Official title: Antibiotics : Studies on the Biological Mechanisms of Antibiotics
Funded at Harvard University · NIH-11384698 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant looks at how two peptide antibiotics disrupt the outer membrane in tough bacteria to help design better, safer drugs.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project start | August 5, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $761,164 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI149778-23 |
| Project ID | NIH-11384698 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with infections caused by drug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria may benefit from advances developed through this work.
✕Less likely to help
No direct patient benefit until new, safer drugs are developed and tested in clinical studies.
What this research studies
The research builds on tools our lab already developed to study how the Gram-negative outer membrane is assembled. It will examine how thanatin and murepavadin block the lipopolysaccharide transport pathway using advanced microscopy and biochemical tests, including single-molecule imaging in living cells. By understanding the exact steps these drugs affect, the project aims to guide the creation of improved antibiotic analogs with better properties and fewer side effects. This work is focused on mechanisms that could lead to new treatments for drug-resistant infections in people.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could lead to more effective antibiotics against multidrug-resistant bacteria and fewer toxic side effects for patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown that studying outer-m membrane assembly and drug mechanisms can guide antibiotic development, with ongoing progress in related pathways.
Where this research is happening
-
Harvard University
Cambridge, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kahne, Daniel — Harvard University
- Study coordinator: Kahne, Daniel
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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.