Blocking bacterial drug pumps to fight antibiotic resistance
Transport Mechanisms and Inhibition of Efflux Pumps in Pathogenic Organisms
This project develops protein-based blockers (like antibody fragments) that plug bacterial pumps so antibiotics work better for people with drug-resistant infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mayo Clinic Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11455406 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are studying how bacterial efflux pumps, which remove antibiotics from cells, bind many different drugs and move them out. They use antibody fragments that can insert into the pump and high-resolution cryo-electron microscopy to see exactly how the pump and blocker fit together. Using those structures, the team will design and test protein-based inhibitors in laboratory bacteria and animal models to see if antibiotics regain their effectiveness. The work focuses on Staphylococcus aureus pumps (including NorA) as a path toward treatments that could help people with resistant infections.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria—especially Staphylococcus aureus strains known or suspected to use efflux-pump resistance—would be the most relevant group for future participation.
Not a fit: Patients whose infections are caused by bacteria that use non-efflux resistance mechanisms or who have non-bacterial illnesses are unlikely to benefit from these inhibitors.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could restore the effectiveness of existing antibiotics against resistant bacteria and reduce severe or untreatable infections.
How similar studies have performed: The team has prior structural and antibody-fragment findings against the NorA pump, but protein-based efflux pump inhibitors are a novel approach that has not yet been proven in patients.
Where this research is happening
Rochester, United States
- Mayo Clinic Rochester — Rochester, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Traaseth, Nathaniel J. — Mayo Clinic Rochester
- Study coordinator: Traaseth, Nathaniel J.
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.