Early syphilis detection by finding bacterial cell-wall fragments
Official title: Released peptidoglycan fragments are a biomarker for early stages of syphilis
Funded at Northwestern University · NIH-11145848 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A lab test that looks for pieces of the syphilis bacterium to find infections much sooner in people who may have been exposed.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $196,636 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AI185998-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11145848 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with recent sexual exposure that could transmit syphilis or those with early signs or symptoms who want a faster, direct diagnostic test would be ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without risk factors or symptoms for syphilis, or those with a past treated infection and no active disease, are unlikely to benefit.
What this research studies
The research team is developing a test that finds tiny fragments of the syphilis bacterium's cell wall (peptidoglycan) using a lab-made antibody. They grow Treponema pallidum in the lab and use those bacterial materials to create and refine the antibody that binds the fragments. The team will then apply the antibody to patient samples like blood or other clinical specimens to see if the fragments can be detected earlier than standard antibody tests. Over time they will compare samples from people with active infection, past treated infection, and those without syphilis to measure accuracy and timing.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could allow doctors to detect active syphilis much earlier than current antibody tests so treatment can begin sooner and transmission reduced.
How similar studies have gone: This approach is fairly novel—most current diagnostics detect the patient's immune response rather than bacterial fragments—though initial lab findings from this group are promising.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jutras, Brandon Lyon — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Jutras, Brandon Lyon
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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.