Developing new drugs to fight antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections
Official title: First-in-class rationally designed inhibitors of the SUF-like pathway of iron-sulfur cluster biosynthesis for treating infections caused by S. aureus and other Gram-positive bacteria
Funded at Colorado School of Mines · NIH-11090349 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking for new medicines that can help fight tough bacterial infections, like those caused by S. aureus and E. faecalis, by blocking a key process that these bacteria need to survive, which could lead to better treatments for infections that don't respond well to current antibiotics.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Colorado School of Mines NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Golden, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $232,247 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AI176058-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11090349 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients with infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria, particularly those resistant to current antibiotic treatments.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria or those who do not have bacterial infections may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on creating innovative drugs that target a specific pathway in bacteria responsible for iron-sulfur cluster biosynthesis, which is crucial for their survival. By inhibiting the cysteine desulfurase enzyme in this pathway, the researchers aim to reduce the viability of harmful Gram-positive bacteria like S. aureus and E. faecalis. The approach involves screening a library of compounds to identify effective inhibitors that can be optimized for better pharmacokinetic properties. If successful, this could lead to new treatment options for infections that are currently difficult to manage due to antibiotic resistance.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide new treatment options for patients suffering from infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
How similar studies have gone: While the SUF-like pathway is a relatively novel target, preliminary data suggests that similar approaches targeting bacterial biosynthesis pathways have shown promise in other studies.
Where this research is happening
-
Colorado School of Mines
Golden, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Holz, Richard C — Colorado School of Mines
- Study coordinator: Holz, Richard C
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.