Gut bacteria chemicals that help protect against cholera
Official title: Microbiome-derived small molecules and host resistance against Vibrio cholerae
Funded at University of Kansas Lawrence · NIH-11333190 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at chemicals made by gut bacteria to find ways to prevent or reduce cholera infections in people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kansas Lawrence NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lawrence, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2016 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $114,819 |
| NIH project number | 5P20GM113117-10 |
| Project ID | NIH-11333190 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants would be people willing to provide stool samples, including healthy volunteers and individuals at risk for cholera exposure.
✕Less likely to help
People with acute, severe cholera who need immediate medical care are unlikely to benefit directly from this early-stage laboratory research.
What this research studies
We study chemicals made by the human gut microbiome that can change how Vibrio cholerae, the cholera bacterium, behaves. Scientists extract small molecules from human stool samples and test their effects on cholera bacteria in the lab and in cell or animal models. The team aims to identify which gut microbes and compounds reduce bacterial motility and virulence, and to characterize how those compounds work. Over time these findings could guide new microbiome-based treatments or preventive approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new microbiome-based treatments or preventives that reduce cholera severity or lower the risk of infection.
How similar studies have gone: Previous laboratory studies found that microbiome-derived extracts can suppress virulence in pathogens like Salmonella and influence gene expression in V. cholerae, but translating these lab findings into patient therapies remains new.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Kansas Lawrence
Lawrence, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Antunes, Luis Caetano Martha — University of Kansas Lawrence
- Study coordinator: Antunes, Luis Caetano Martha
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
KC Youth Violence Prevention Center: A comprehensive plan to reduce youth violence
A program in Kansas City aims to reduce youth violence and deaths by applying a coordinated, community-focused approach.
-
Gene regulation and the genetic basis of complex traits (how our genes influence survival and trait differences)
Researchers are studying how genetic differences that affect gene regulation contribute to when and how people survive and reproduce, especially in natural populations.
-
Finding new treatments and understanding how congenital glycosylation disorders work
A research project aims to uncover how certain congenital glycosylation disorders develop and identify existing drugs that could help treat DPAGT1-CDG.
-
How ADP-ribosylation controls our antiviral defenses
Researchers are studying a cellular modification called ADP-ribosylation and how it helps the body fight viruses, with a focus on how coronaviruses interact with this process.
-
Chemoenzymatic synthesis to make biologically active molecules using enzyme libraries
A scientist team will develop enzyme-based methods to make complex drug-like molecules that could help fight cancer and other diseases.
-
DNA breaks and repair in opioid addiction
This project looks at how DNA damage and repair in brain cells may influence opioid addiction and relapse in people and animal models.
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.