Dormant bacteria: why they survive antibiotics and how to stop them
Elucidating physiology of dormant bacteria to combat antibiotic persistence
This work looks for weak spots in bacteria that go dormant so future treatments can prevent repeat infections like UTIs, C. difficile, latent TB, and cystic fibrosis lung infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard Medical School NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11090875 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research studies non-growing (dormant) bacteria to learn how they survive when antibiotics usually fail. The team watches thousands of individual bacteria, using E. coli as a model and also studying pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Clostridioides difficile. They have tracked processes like energy use and ion export that keep cells alive during starvation and are searching for other essential survival mechanisms. By pinpointing these vulnerabilities, the lab aims to suggest targets for drugs or therapies that could clear persistent infections.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with recurrent urinary tract infections, recurrent C. difficile, latent tuberculosis, or chronic Pseudomonas lung infections (for example, in cystic fibrosis) are the kinds of patients most likely to benefit in the future.
Not a fit: Patients with acute, easily treated bacterial infections, viral illnesses, or those needing immediate clinical care are unlikely to get direct benefit from this laboratory-focused work in the short term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to new drugs or treatment strategies that kill dormant bacteria and reduce recurrent, hard-to-treat infections.
How similar studies have performed: Prior basic-science studies have identified antibiotic targets and sometimes led to new drugs, but translating discoveries about bacterial persistence into human treatments remains difficult and not yet widely proven.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Harvard Medical School — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Basan, Markus Thomas — Harvard Medical School
- Study coordinator: Basan, Markus Thomas
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.