Exploring new ways to discover natural products from myxobacteria
Official title: Expansion and application of synthetic biology tools for natural products discovery from myxobacteria
Funded at University of Mississippi · NIH-10977528 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring how to unlock new medicines from special bacteria called myxobacteria, which can create unique compounds, by using advanced techniques to help other organisms produce these compounds, with the hope of finding new antibiotics and antiviral treatments for everyone.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Mississippi NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (University, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $289,424 |
| NIH project number | 1R01GM149795-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10977528 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals suffering from bacterial or viral infections that may benefit from new therapeutic agents.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions that do not involve bacterial or viral infections may not receive any benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing the tools available for discovering natural products from myxobacteria, a type of bacteria known for producing unique therapeutic compounds. By using synthetic biology techniques, the project aims to express biosynthetic gene clusters from myxobacteria in various host organisms, which could lead to the identification of new antibiotics and antiviral agents. The research will involve developing new methods and models to better utilize the genetic information from these bacteria, ultimately expanding the range of natural products that can be discovered and developed into treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the discovery of new antibiotics and antiviral agents that are crucial for treating infections.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success in using synthetic biology approaches to discover natural products from other bacterial sources, indicating a promising potential for this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Mississippi
University, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stevens, David Cole — University of Mississippi
- Study coordinator: Stevens, David Cole
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.