Brewing anti-toxin drugs using probiotic yeast
Funded at North Carolina State University Raleigh · NIH-11603233 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A studying team will develop probiotic yeast–based anti-toxin drugs to help treat gut bacterial infections and reduce antibiotic-related complications.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | North Carolina State University Raleigh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Raleigh, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $882,239 |
| NIH project number | 4DP2AT012795-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11603233 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with bacterial gut infections or at risk of C. difficile recurrence who are treated with antibiotics and could benefit from adjunct anti-toxin therapy.
✕Less likely to help
If their infection is not toxin-driven or if the probiotic approach is not compatible with their treatment, they may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses baker's yeast engineered as a probiotic to create toxin-neutralizing therapies that could work alongside antibiotics to improve gut health. It focuses on blocking bacterial toxins, particularly glycosyltransferase toxins, to prevent damage to gut cells. The approach uses a fermentation-ready yeast platform to generate peptide-based inhibitors that are inexpensive and scalable. The aim is to provide a complementary tool to antibiotics that preserves beneficial gut bacteria and lowers recurrence of infections like C. difficile. The work involves preclinical testing in models that mimic human gut infections to establish safety and potential effectiveness.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could have a new, gut-friendly option to reduce toxin damage during bacterial infections and lessen antibiotic-related complications.
How similar studies have gone: Other toxin-neutralizing approaches exist but many are expensive or target variable toxin regions; this probiotic-based method is a novel, potentially scalable alternative.
Where this research is happening
-
North Carolina State University Raleigh
Raleigh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Crook, Nathan C. — North Carolina State University Raleigh
- Study coordinator: Crook, Nathan C.
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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.