Creating models to understand how certain proteins bind manganese and iron for potential medical uses
Official title: Biomimetic models of manganese- and iron-histidine coordination sites in metalloproteins for chelation, antibiotic activity, and oxidative reactivity
Funded at Mississippi State University · NIH-10292163 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain proteins in our immune system grab onto metals like manganese and iron, with the goal of creating new treatments that can help manage these metals in the body better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mississippi State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Mississippi State, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2021 |
| Project end | July 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2021 |
| Award (this year) | $418,017 |
| NIH project number | 1R15GM143702-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10292163 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research would include individuals with conditions related to manganese or iron metabolism, or those who may benefit from novel antibiotic therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have issues related to metal metabolism or who are not affected by antibiotic-resistant infections may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding how specific proteins in the immune system, like calprotectin, bind to manganese and iron. By developing models that mimic these proteins, researchers aim to create new chelating agents that can selectively bind these metals. The study employs a combination of chemical synthesis, structural analysis, and computational methods to explore these interactions. This work could lead to advancements in treatments that utilize metal-binding therapeutics or improve methods for breaking down certain chemical compounds.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapies for conditions related to metal imbalances in the body and improved antibiotic treatments.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of using bioinspired models is innovative, similar research has shown promise in developing metal-binding therapeutics and catalytic methods.
Where this research is happening
-
Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Creutz, Sidney E — Mississippi State University
- Study coordinator: Creutz, Sidney E
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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.