Exploring natural products from bacteria that live in ants to find new antibiotics.
Official title: Leveraging symbiosis and desert biogeography for discovery of host-selected natural products
Funded at Scripps College · NIH-10875686 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how Trachymyrmex ants and the bacteria they live with can help us find new antibiotics, which could be really helpful for people dealing with infections that are hard to treat.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Scripps College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Claremont, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $407,608 |
| NIH project number | 1R15GM147873-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10875686 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals suffering from infections that are difficult to treat due to antibiotic resistance.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with infections that are already effectively treated by existing antibiotics may not receive significant benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the unique ecological relationships between Trachymyrmex ants and their bacterial symbionts in the American Southwest to discover new antibiotic compounds. By systematically sampling these ants from various locations, the study aims to create a diverse library of natural product extracts derived from the bacteria. The project will analyze the chemical diversity of these extracts and identify environmental factors that influence the presence of active compounds. Patients may benefit from the development of novel antibiotics that could address antibiotic resistance and improve treatment options.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the discovery of new antibiotics that are effective against resistant bacterial infections.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown success in discovering novel compounds through ecological approaches, indicating a promising potential for this method.
Where this research is happening
-
Scripps College
Claremont, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Van Arnam, Ethan Buggie — Scripps College
- Study coordinator: Van Arnam, Ethan Buggie
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.