Engineering a virus-based therapy to fight Burkholderia infections
Official title: Engineering of a temperate Burkholderia cepacia complex phage to improve efficacy as a potential therapeutic
Funded at J. Craig Venter Institute, INC. · NIH-11374693 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A scientist team is editing a bacteriophage from Burkholderia to make it a safer, broader-use therapy for people with cystic fibrosis who have Burkholderia infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | J. Craig Venter Institute, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Diego, United States) |
| Project start | June 10, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $529,490 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AI194149-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11374693 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with Burkholderia cepacia complex infections, especially those with cystic fibrosis, could potentially benefit from future phage therapies derived from this work.
✕Less likely to help
If the phage therapy proves unsafe or ineffective, or if Burkholderia strains are resistant to the phage, patients may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to modify a phage called BCC02 so it can kill more Burkholderia bacteria without integrating into their genomes. The work uses synthetic biology to remove the phage’s ability to become a permanent part of bacterial DNA, which could make it safer as a therapeutic option. Researchers will compare the engineered phage to the original version to see how well they lyse bacteria and how broad their activity is against clinically relevant strains. If successful, this approach could add a new biological tool for managing difficult infections in patients with compromised lungs.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with Burkholderia infections could have a new phage-based option to help clear bacteria when standard antibiotics fail.
How similar studies have gone: Phage therapy for Burkholderia and related bacteria has shown promise in preclinical work, but clinical success with safe, broad-range phages remains contingent on overcoming safety and host-range challenges.
Where this research is happening
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J. Craig Venter Institute, INC.
San Diego, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fouts, Derrick E — J. Craig Venter Institute, INC.
- Study coordinator: Fouts, Derrick E
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.