Better Ways to Find Viruses and Bacteria in Human Samples
Viral MEM: Viral Enrichment and Precise Stochastic Quantification with Microbial Context Preservation for Rigorous Virome Analysis of Challenging Human Samples
['FUNDING_U01'] · CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY · NIH-11195679
This project creates new tools to precisely identify and count viruses and bacteria in human tissue samples, especially for conditions like Celiac Disease.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_U01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (PASADENA, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11195679 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Our bodies are home to many tiny microbes, including viruses and bacteria, which together are called the virome and microbiome. This project develops advanced technologies, called Viral-MEM and Viral StochQuant, to improve how we find and measure these microbes in human tissue. Viral-MEM helps separate viruses and bacteria from human cells in samples, making it easier to detect them even when there are very few. Viral StochQuant then provides a more accurate way to count these microbes, ensuring the results are reliable and can be repeated by other scientists. These methods are especially helpful for challenging samples where it's hard to get a clear picture of the microbial community.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with conditions such as Celiac Disease, who might provide tissue samples for research, could indirectly benefit from the improved analysis methods developed here.
Not a fit: Patients not affected by conditions where virome analysis is relevant, or those not involved in providing biological samples for research, may not directly receive benefit from this specific technology development.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to a deeper understanding of how viruses and bacteria contribute to diseases like Celiac Disease, potentially guiding new ways to diagnose or treat these conditions.
How similar studies have performed: This project builds upon existing validated methods for microbial enrichment, aiming to advance and refine these techniques for viral analysis.
Where this research is happening
PASADENA, UNITED STATES
- CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY — PASADENA, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: ISMAGILOV, RUSTEM F — CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
- Study coordinator: ISMAGILOV, RUSTEM F
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.
Conditions: Celiac Disease, Coeliac Disease