Better antibiotic combinations for drug-resistant pneumonia from Acinetobacter and Klebsiella
Building and prospective validation of promising mono- and combination regimens that optimize killing of CRAB and CR-Klebsiella pneumoniae and for resistance suppression in murine pneumonia models
Researchers are looking for antibiotic combinations that more quickly kill carbapenem‑resistant Acinetobacter and Klebsiella in lung infections and that prevent these bacteria from becoming resistant, aiming to help patients with these serious pneumonias.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Gainesville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11164517 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work uses mouse models of pneumonia to compare single drugs and drug combinations to see which regimens kill carbapenem‑resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) and carbapenem‑resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) most effectively. The team measures how quickly bacteria are cleared and whether resistant subpopulations emerge under different dosing schedules. They will use both neutropenic (weakened immune) and immunocompetent mouse models to understand how the immune system affects treatment success and resistance suppression. Promising combination regimens and dosing strategies will be prospectively validated in these models before any consideration of human testing.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with pneumonia caused by carbapenem‑resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) or carbapenem‑resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP), especially those not responding to standard antibiotics, would be the intended beneficiaries.
Not a fit: People with infections from other bacteria, mild pneumonia treatable with standard antibiotics, or asymptomatic carriers are unlikely to directly benefit from this preclinical work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to antibiotic combinations and dosing plans that more reliably cure CRAB and CRKP pneumonia and lower treatment failure and death.
How similar studies have performed: Combination antibiotic approaches have shown promise in lab studies and some clinical situations against resistant Gram‑negative infections, but optimizing specific dosing regimens to both maximize killing and prevent resistance in lung infections is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Gainesville, United States
- University of Florida — Gainesville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Louie, Arnold — University of Florida
- Study coordinator: Louie, Arnold
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.