Creating new antibiotics that spare healthy gut bacteria for treating Clostridioides difficile infections
Official title: Development of Microbiome-Sparing Antibacterials for Clostridioides difficile Infection
Funded at University of Tennessee Health Sci Ctr · NIH-11047461 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking for new ways to treat Clostridioides difficile infections by targeting a specific enzyme that helps the bacteria survive, aiming to create safe treatments that won't harm the good bacteria in your gut.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Tennessee Health Sci Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Memphis, United States) |
| Project start | December 4, 2024 |
| Project end | November 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $754,446 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AI182231-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11047461 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who have experienced recurrent Clostridioides difficile infections and are seeking new treatment options.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have Clostridioides difficile infections or those with other unrelated health conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing new antibacterial treatments specifically for Clostridioides difficile infections, which can be severe and often recur. The team is investigating a bacterial enzyme called FabK, which is crucial for the bacteria's survival, and aims to create inhibitors that target this enzyme without harming the beneficial bacteria in the gut. By using mouse models, they have shown that inhibiting FabK can effectively combat C. difficile while preserving the normal gut microbiome. The goal is to enhance the effectiveness of these inhibitors and ensure they are safe for patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for patients suffering from recurrent C. difficile infections, reducing relapse rates and improving overall health outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in targeting similar bacterial enzymes for antibiotic development, indicating that this approach could be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Tennessee Health Sci Ctr
Memphis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hevener, Kirk Edward — University of Tennessee Health Sci Ctr
- Study coordinator: Hevener, Kirk Edward
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding how the immune system fights C. difficile to prevent recurrence
A new NIH grant is studying how the body’s own immune response to C. difficile infection might be boosted to prevent future outbreaks.
-
Impact of gut bile acids on C. difficile infection in inflammatory bowel disease
This grant tests whether changes in gut microbes and their bile acids influence how likely people with inflammatory bowel disease are to get and how severe a C. difficile infection could be.
-
Role of gut bacteria in shaping C. difficile infection
Aims to map how the gut microbiome and its metabolic environment influence Clostridioides difficile infection in people and how we might prevent or treat it.
-
Detailed genetic look at C. difficile and the gut microbiome in infection and relapse
Researchers will sequence C. difficile and gut bacteria from thousands of patient stool samples to find genetic and microbial patterns linked to severe or recurring infections.
-
Multivalent vaccine to prevent C. difficile infection and recurrence
This project is developing a vaccine that teaches the immune system to neutralize C. difficile toxins and block the bacteria from coming back for people at risk of infection.
-
Gut-targeted antibiotics for C. difficile infection
Developing gut-targeted antibiotics to kill C. difficile while keeping healthy gut bacteria for people with recurrent C. difficile infections.
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.