Exploring how certain fungi can produce new antibiotics to fight drug-resistant infections.
Official title: Rapid dissection of the biosynthesis of antiMRSA antibiotics produced in co-culture by extremophilic fungi through the development of Fungal Artificial Chromosomes
Funded at Intact Genomics, INC. · NIH-10879091 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring how certain tough fungi can create new antibiotics to help fight stubborn infections like MRSA, with the hope that these discoveries will lead to better treatments for patients facing antibiotic resistance.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Intact Genomics, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (St Louis, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2022 |
| Project end | December 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $960,097 |
| NIH project number | 5R44AI170419-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10879091 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals suffering from infections that are resistant to current antibiotic treatments.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with infections that are easily treatable with existing antibiotics may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the ability of extremophilic fungi to produce antibiotics that can combat drug-resistant bacteria, particularly MRSA. By utilizing advanced techniques such as Fungal Artificial Chromosomes and Next-Gen Sequencing, the researchers aim to unlock the genetic potential of these fungi to produce novel antimicrobial compounds. Patients may benefit from new treatments developed from these findings, especially in the context of rising antibiotic resistance. The study combines artificial intelligence and nuclear magnetic resonance to enhance the efficiency of antibiotic discovery.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the development of new antibiotics that effectively treat infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in utilizing fungi for antibiotic production, indicating that this approach could yield significant advancements in the field.
Where this research is happening
-
Intact Genomics, INC.
St Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wu, Chengcang Charles — Intact Genomics, INC.
- Study coordinator: Wu, Chengcang Charles
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.