Creating new antibiotics to fight resistant Gram-negative infections
Official title: Development of DksA-targeted Antibiotics for Treatment of Gram-negative Infections
Funded at VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System · NIH-10950304 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on creating new antibiotics that can help fight tough infections caused by certain bacteria that are hard to treat, especially for veterans and patients in VA hospitals, and early tests show that these new medicines might really help.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | October 1, 2022 |
| Project end | September 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 5I01BX005733-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10950304 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are veterans and individuals suffering from infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria, particularly those who have not responded to existing antibiotic treatments.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with infections caused by non-Gram-negative bacteria or those who are not veterans may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing new antibiotics that target a specific protein called DksA, which is crucial for the survival of Gram-negative bacteria. These bacteria are known for causing serious infections, especially in veterans and patients in VA hospitals, and are increasingly resistant to existing antibiotics. The researchers are using advanced modeling techniques to create new chemical compounds that can effectively combat these infections. Initial tests in animal models have shown promising results, indicating that these new antibiotics could be effective in treating resistant infections.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the development of effective new antibiotics that can treat infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
How similar studies have gone: While antibiotic resistance is a well-known issue, the specific approach of targeting the DksA protein is novel and has not been extensively tested in clinical settings.
Where this research is happening
-
VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System
Aurora, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vazquez-Torres, Andres — VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System
- Study coordinator: Vazquez-Torres, Andres
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.