Discovering microbial enzymes to improve probiotics
Official title: Chemoproteomic discovery of secreted microbial enzymes for engineered probiotics
Funded at University of California-Irvine · NIH-11058361 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain enzymes made by gut bacteria can help make probiotics work better, which could lead to improved health for people dealing with different health issues.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California-Irvine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Irvine, United States) |
| Project start | March 27, 2024 |
| Project end | March 26, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $46,067 |
| NIH project number | 5F31AI178923-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11058361 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals with inflammatory diseases, microbial infections, or cancers who may benefit from enhanced probiotic therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have any gut-related health issues or those who are not interested in probiotic treatments may not receive benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how specific enzymes produced by gut bacteria can be harnessed to enhance the effectiveness of probiotics. By using advanced chemoproteomic techniques, the study aims to identify and characterize these enzymes, which play a crucial role in modulating immune responses and other biological processes. The goal is to develop probiotics that can better regulate the levels of important metabolites in the body, potentially leading to improved health outcomes for patients with various conditions. Patients may benefit from a deeper understanding of how gut microbiota influences their health and the development of more effective probiotic treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the creation of probiotics that significantly improve immune function and overall health.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using microbial enzymes to influence health outcomes, indicating that this approach could be a valuable advancement in probiotic therapy.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California-Irvine
Irvine, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Falco, Natalie — University of California-Irvine
- Study coordinator: Falco, Natalie
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Retinal cell grafts to restore sight in AMD and RP
A patient-focused program aims to replace damaged retinal cells with organized, transplant-ready sheets created from stem cells to improve vision in age-related macular degeneration and related diseases.
-
Treg-based tolerance to dystrophin immune responses in Duchenne muscular dystrophy
A new grant aims to help people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy by teaching the immune system to tolerate the dystrophin treatment delivered by gene therapy.
-
Immune and NGF factors in Alzheimer’s for adults with Down syndrome
This grant studies why people with Down syndrome develop Alzheimer’s disease by looking at immune signals and nerve growth factor problems.
-
Promoting Heart Cell Maturation with Light-Activated Engineered Peptides
Aims to help grown heart cells from stem cells mature more like real adult heart tissue using special peptide coatings that respond to light.
-
Understanding how heart nerves affect dangerous heart rhythms after a heart attack
This NIH grant studies how changes in the heart’s nerve signaling after a heart attack lead to dangerous rhythm problems, with the goal of finding ways to prevent them.
-
All of Us Southern California Consortium supports broad participation in a national health data program
A national health data program in Southern California works to recruit and retain adults to share health information and participate in research that uses this data.
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.