Developing peptides to fight antibiotic resistance in bacteria
Official title: Plugging & Pulling-in: tuning peptides for TolC to overcome antibiotic resistance
Funded at University of Kansas Lawrence · NIH-11100928 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking for new ways to help antibiotics work better against tough infections like E. coli by blocking the bacteria's pumps that push the medicine out, which could lead to better treatments for people dealing with antibiotic-resistant infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kansas Lawrence NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lawrence, United States) |
| Project start | August 5, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $65,000 |
| NIH project number | 3R01GM148583-02S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11100928 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients suffering from antibiotic-resistant infections, particularly those caused by E. coli.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with infections that are not caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on overcoming antibiotic resistance by targeting efflux pumps in bacteria, specifically E. coli. These pumps expel antibiotics, making them ineffective, and the study aims to develop peptides that can either plug these pumps or facilitate drug delivery into bacterial cells. By understanding the necessary protein interactions, the researchers hope to enhance the effectiveness of existing antibiotics and create new treatment avenues. Patients with antibiotic-resistant infections may benefit from the outcomes of this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that restore the effectiveness of existing antibiotics against resistant bacterial infections.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in targeting efflux pumps to combat antibiotic resistance, indicating that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Kansas Lawrence
Lawrence, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Slusky, Joanna Sg — University of Kansas Lawrence
- Study coordinator: Slusky, Joanna Sg
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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.