Finding weak spots in Gram-negative bacterial infections
Infection-Dependent Vulnerabilities of Gram-negative Bacterial Pathogens
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO · NIH-11142991
Testing small molecules that could stop Salmonella and related Gram-negative bacteria when they hide inside human cells.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (Boulder, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11142991 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
This work looks for ways that Gram-negative bacteria like Salmonella become vulnerable during infection so drugs can reach them. Researchers use infected cell cultures and animal models to see which small molecules can kill bacteria inside host cells even if they fail in standard lab broth. The team studies how the host immune system or chemical treatments make the bacterial outer membrane leaky or disable pumps so compounds can get in. Some candidate molecules disrupt bacterial membrane voltage and have reduced tissue infection in mice, pointing toward possible new treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with or at risk for infections caused by Salmonella or other Gram-negative bacteria would be the eventual candidates for treatments developed from this work.
Not a fit: Patients with infections caused by non–Gram-negative organisms (for example, most staphylococcal or fungal infections) would be unlikely to benefit from these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to new therapies that reach and kill Gram-negative bacteria inside infected tissues, including drug-resistant strains.
How similar studies have performed: Related preclinical work has shown some compounds can reduce bacterial colonization in mice, but human effectiveness has not been established.
Where this research is happening
Boulder, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO — Boulder, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: DETWEILER, CORRELLA S — UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO
- Study coordinator: DETWEILER, CORRELLA S
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.
Conditions: Bacterial Infections