Changing the sugar coatings on the tuberculosis bacterium
Tailoring modifications of polysaccharides in Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Researchers are changing the sugar coatings on the tuberculosis bacterium to understand how those changes help it survive and make people sick.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Colorado State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Fort Collins, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11159708 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team will remove or alter specific sugar attachments on Mycobacterium tuberculosis using genetic and chemical methods and then study how those changes affect the bacterium's survival and behavior. They will combine laboratory bacterial work, carbohydrate chemistry to map the modifications, and immune studies to see how altered bacteria interact with host defenses. Some work will use animal models and tissue or blood-based experiments to measure infection and immune responses. The goal is to link specific surface sugars to how TB causes disease and resists treatment.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with active or recently diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis, or those willing to provide sputum or blood samples for research, would be most relevant to follow or contribute to this work.
Not a fit: People without tuberculosis or those seeking immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this laboratory-focused research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new targets for TB drugs, vaccines, or improved diagnostics by exposing key sugar-based features the bacterium uses to survive.
How similar studies have performed: Altering surface sugar decorations has changed virulence in other bacteria and early results from these investigators' mutant TB strains suggest this approach is promising but still early-stage for TB.
Where this research is happening
Fort Collins, United States
- Colorado State University — Fort Collins, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jackson, Mary — Colorado State University
- Study coordinator: Jackson, Mary
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.