Genetic vulnerabilities exposed by beta-lactamase overexpression in Acinetobacter baumannii
Official title: Genetic Vulnerabilities Exposed by Intrinsic Beta-Lactamase Overexpression in Acinteobacter Baumannii
Funded at Veterans Health Administration · NIH-11611920 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A funded NIH project explores how overproducing certain enzymes in the bacteria Acinetobacter baumannii may reveal new weaknesses that could lead to better treatments for this dangerous, drug-resistant infection.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Veterans Health Administration NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Decatur, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | October 1, 2023 |
| Project end | September 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2027 |
| NIH project number | 5IK2BX005911-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11611920 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with infections caused by or at risk for Acinetobacter baumannii, particularly those with bloodstream infections or ventilator-associated pneumonia, could benefit from future advances stemming from this work.
✕Less likely to help
The immediate project activities do not involve patient participation or direct benefit to individual patients.
What this research studies
This project looks at how overexpression of beta-lactamase enzymes in Acinetobacter baumannii changes the bacteria’s biology and may uncover targets for new therapies. Researchers aim to understand cellular functions linked to antibiotic resistance and pathogenesis in this high-priority pathogen. The work is conducted within a Veterans Health Administration setting, focusing on mechanisms that could one day inform safer and more effective treatments for patients with serious infections.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could guide development of new antibiotics or adjunct therapies to treat drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infections.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research suggests that understanding beta-lactamase roles may reveal new therapeutic angles, but direct clinical applications remain to be proven.
Where this research is happening
-
Veterans Health Administration
Decatur, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Colquhoun, Jennifer Marie — Veterans Health Administration
- Study coordinator: Colquhoun, Jennifer Marie
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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.