Designing new antimicrobial peptides to fight resistant bacteria
Official title: Systematic Design of Histone-Derived Antimicrobial Peptides
Funded at Wellesley College · NIH-10438240 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring new ways to fight tough bacterial infections by creating special proteins that can work alongside or even replace traditional antibiotics, helping people who struggle with antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wellesley College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Wellesley, United States) |
| Project start | April 8, 2022 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2022 |
| Award (this year) | $455,312 |
| NIH project number | 1R15AI169210-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10438240 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals suffering from bacterial infections that do not respond to conventional antibiotic treatments.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with viral infections or those who do not have antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing new antimicrobial peptides derived from histones to combat bacteria that have become resistant to traditional antibiotics. The team will investigate how modifying these peptides, including creating hybrid versions and combining them with existing antibiotics, can enhance their effectiveness. By studying a select group of peptides, the researchers aim to understand how these modifications impact their ability to disrupt bacterial cell membranes. This innovative approach seeks to provide alternative treatments for bacterial infections that are increasingly difficult to treat.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments for bacterial infections that are resistant to current antibiotics.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in using antimicrobial peptides to combat resistant bacteria, indicating that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Wellesley College
Wellesley, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Elmore, Donald E. — Wellesley College
- Study coordinator: Elmore, Donald E.
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.