Creating new peptide antibiotics to fight drug-resistant bacteria
Official title: Developing a novel class of peptide antibiotics targeting carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative organisms
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-10896281 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on creating new antibiotics to help fight tough bacterial infections, especially for patients dealing with bacteria that don't respond to regular treatments, by using special peptides that can kill the bacteria without harming human cells.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $867,033 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI176537-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10896281 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients with infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, particularly those who have not responded to standard antibiotic treatments.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with infections caused by bacteria that are not Gram-negative or those who are not infected may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a new class of peptide antibiotics specifically designed to combat multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, such as Acinetobacter baumannii. The approach involves engineering antimicrobial peptides that can effectively kill bacteria by disrupting their membranes while minimizing toxicity to human cells. The study aims to overcome existing limitations of antimicrobial peptides to create a safe and effective treatment option for patients suffering from severe bacterial infections. By testing these novel antibiotics against clinical isolates, the research seeks to provide a promising alternative to current antibiotics that are becoming less effective.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the development of new antibiotics that effectively treat infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria, improving patient outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in developing antimicrobial peptides, indicating that this approach has potential for success in treating resistant infections.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Di, Yuanpu Peter — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Di, Yuanpu Peter
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.