Blocking gut bacteria by targeting their iron-scavenging systems
Harnessing iron acquisition to hinder enterobacterial pathogenesis
Developing vaccines and targeted antibiotic delivery that block how E. coli and Salmonella steal iron to help people at risk of gut, urinary, or bloodstream infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11258411 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have recurrent gut infections, urinary tract infections, or Crohn’s disease linked to certain E. coli, this project aims to stop the bacteria from getting the iron they need to grow. Scientists are developing vaccine-like treatments that target bacterial siderophores and designing antibiotic delivery methods that exploit the bacteria's iron-uptake pathways. They will test these approaches in laboratory experiments and animal models to see whether they reduce bacterial colonization, gut inflammation, and spread beyond the intestines. The work is intended to lay the groundwork for therapies that could later be tested in people.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with recurrent E. coli urinary tract infections, Crohn’s disease associated with adherent-invasive E. coli, or those at high risk for non-typhoidal Salmonella gut infections would be the most relevant candidates.
Not a fit: Patients whose infections are caused by organisms that do not rely on these specific siderophore iron systems, or those with viral or non-infectious conditions, are unlikely to benefit from these approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to new vaccines or targeted antibiotics that prevent or treat E. coli and Salmonella infections and reduce antibiotic use and spread.
How similar studies have performed: Prior laboratory and animal studies targeting siderophores or using siderophore–antibiotic conjugates have shown promising results, but human testing is still limited.
Where this research is happening
La Jolla, United States
- University of California, San Diego — La Jolla, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Raffatellu, Manuela — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Raffatellu, Manuela
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.