Finding new antibiotics for C. diff infections
Mechanistic Dissection and Antibiotic Discovery Targeting Clostridioides difficile RNA Polymerase
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER · NIH-11142422
This project looks for new ways to fight serious C. diff infections, especially those resistant to current antibiotics.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (DALLAS, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11142422 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
C. diff is a dangerous gut infection that is becoming harder to treat because it resists many antibiotics. This work aims to understand how C. diff bacteria grow and survive by focusing on a key process called RNA polymerase, which helps them make proteins. By learning more about this process and how it's controlled, we hope to find new weak spots in the bacteria. This understanding could lead to the development of completely new antibiotics that can overcome current drug resistance.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients who suffer from severe or recurrent Clostridioides difficile infections, particularly those resistant to existing antibiotics, could potentially benefit from future treatments developed from this research.
Not a fit: Patients without C. diff infections or those whose infections respond well to current antibiotics may not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new and effective treatments for life-threatening C. diff infections, especially those that are currently resistant to antibiotics.
How similar studies have performed: RNA polymerase is a known drug target, but the specific mechanisms in C. diff and how transcription factors regulate it are not well understood, making this a novel approach for this pathogen.
Where this research is happening
DALLAS, UNITED STATES
- UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER — DALLAS, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: CAO, XINYUN — UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER
- Study coordinator: CAO, XINYUN
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 below.