Discovering New Medicines from Unique Bacteria
Methylotrophs: underexplored bacteria for discovering novel natural products and biochemistry
This work explores special bacteria called methylotrophs to find new natural compounds that could become future medicines, especially to fight antibiotic resistance.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Salt Lake City, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11103361 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
For a long time, natural products have been a key source for developing new medicines, but finding new ones from traditional sources has become harder. At the same time, we face growing health threats like antibiotic resistance, making the need for new drugs urgent. This project looks at methylotrophs, a type of bacteria that grows on simple carbon compounds, as a promising, untapped source for novel therapeutic compounds. Researchers are using advanced genetic and metabolomic tools to explore a collection of these bacteria, hoping to uncover new compounds with antibiotic and anticancer properties.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research does not involve direct patient participation but aims to benefit future patients who may need new treatments for antibiotic-resistant infections or cancer.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment or direct participation in a clinical trial would not find a direct benefit from this early-stage drug discovery research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to the discovery of entirely new drugs to treat infections that are resistant to current antibiotics or to combat cancer.
How similar studies have performed: While natural products have historically yielded many successful drugs, this approach focuses on an underexplored group of bacteria, making it a novel direction for drug discovery.
Where this research is happening
Salt Lake City, United States
- Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah — Salt Lake City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Puri, Aaron Webster — Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah
- Study coordinator: Puri, Aaron Webster
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 below.