Glycoproteins in bacteria: how sugar tags affect biofilms and antibiotics
Official title: Elucidating the roles of protein glycosylation in prokaryotes through functional glycoproteomics
Funded at Rochester Institute of Technology · NIH-11402721 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant explores how sugar molecules attached to bacterial proteins influence biofilm formation and antibiotic response in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rochester Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $186,980 |
| NIH project number | 5R16GM159790-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11402721 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to patients directly in this project (basic bacterial research).
✕Less likely to help
This study does not involve testing in people or directly offer patient interventions.
What this research studies
Scientists will study which bacterial proteins get glycosylated and how these sugar tags change cell behavior, especially during biofilm growth and after antibiotic exposure. The project combines proteomics, computer analysis, and lab tests to map glycoproteins and their roles. By building the Prokaryotic Proteome Project, researchers will compare public data sets to identify glycoproteins across many conditions and strains. The goal is a clearer picture of how glycosylation affects bacterial resilience and infection-related traits, which could guide new therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to new ways to disrupt harmful biofilms and improve antibiotic effectiveness.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows glycosylation influences bacterial behavior; this project expands to large-scale analyses and clinical-relevant models.
Where this research is happening
-
Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schulze, Stefan — Rochester Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Schulze, Stefan
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.