Bacterial chemical signals in mucus and coral that could reveal new antibiotics
Molecular analysis of bacterial interactions
Learning how bacteria living in human airway mucus and in corals make chemical signals and natural compounds to help find new ways to treat respiratory infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Georgia Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11319820 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I were involved, researchers would grow mucus-dwelling bacteria from human airways and bacteria from marine corals in lab conditions that mimic real environments. They will use mass spectrometry and chemical tools to detect the small molecules these bacteria make and see how antibiotics or other chemicals turn those pathways on. The team will map the genes and pathways that produce these natural products and recreate the activating conditions in the lab. The goal is to understand how bacterial neighbors trigger chemical production and to discover new bioactive compounds.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People willing to donate airway mucus or sputum samples—especially those with chronic respiratory conditions like cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, or chronic bronchitis—would be the most relevant candidates for sample-based participation.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate medical treatment or symptom relief will not directly benefit from this lab-focused research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to discovery of new antibiotic compounds and better ways to manage harmful bacteria in the airways.
How similar studies have performed: Past natural-product discovery and mass-spectrometry work has produced novel antibiotics, though applying these methods in human-like mucus and coral-associated bacteria is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
Atlanta, United States
- Georgia Institute of Technology — Atlanta, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Garg, Neha — Georgia Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Garg, Neha
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.