CYP126A1 and CYP143A1: uncovering how these MTB enzymes work and can be blocked
Official title: Structure and function studies of the orphan cytochrome P450s CYP126A1 and CYP143A1 from the human pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Funded at University of Akron · NIH-11444307 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying two Mycobacterium tuberculosis enzymes to understand how they work and how azole drugs might block them to help combat tuberculosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Akron NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Akron, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $538,741 |
| NIH project number | 1R15AI203247-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11444307 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with tuberculosis may benefit from future drugs developed using these findings.
✕Less likely to help
This basic science grant does not involve patient participation or direct clinical testing.
What this research studies
This project will use biochemical and spectroscopic methods to reveal how the MTB enzymes CYP126A1 and CYP143A1 catalyze reactions and interact with potential drug molecules. By analyzing reactive intermediates and the effects of azole inhibitors, the team aims to map structural features that control activity and inhibition. They will also screen for possible substrates of CYP143A1 to understand its role in lipid or sterol metabolism. The findings could inform the design of new drugs targeting these essential bacterial enzymes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could guide development of new tuberculosis drugs that disable key MTB enzymes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work in MTb P450 enzymes has identified some inhibitors and substrates, but the exact roles of CYP126A1 and CYP143A1 remain to be defined.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Akron
Akron, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liu, Yilin — University of Akron
- Study coordinator: Liu, Yilin
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Coronary disease and immune activation in people with HIV and tuberculosis coinfection
This research looks at how having HIV and latent tuberculosis together might raise the risk of heart disease, and what immune changes are involved.
-
Pulmonary rehabilitation to reduce breathing problems after tuberculosis
A program of guided exercise and breathing training to help adults who have recovered from TB breathe better and feel healthier.
-
Pulmonary rehab to reduce breathing troubles after TB
A program of pulmonary rehabilitation is being studied to help adults who have completed TB treatment avoid ongoing lung problems and improve daily breathing.
-
Air pollution and tuberculosis spread in Kampala, Uganda
This project looks at whether dirty air from PM2.5 particles makes tuberculosis more likely to spread within urban slum households in Kampala, Uganda.
-
Air pollution and TB spread in Ugandan urban slums
This project explores whether exposure to air pollution makes tuberculosis more likely to spread within households in a crowded Ugandan slum.
-
Air pollution and TB transmission in Kampala’s urban slums
This project looks at whether air pollution from PM2.5 makes tuberculosis spread more easily from infected people to their neighbors in urban slums of Kampala, Uganda.
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.