Host-directed therapy to protect tissue in GAS infections using PDH/SCFA pathway
Official title: Short-chain fatty acids Regulation of Tissue Damage in Invasive Skin Infections
Funded at Marshall University · NIH-11348686 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A small NIH-funded project will test a host-directed approach to reduce tissue damage from severe GAS infections by blocking a fatty-acid signaling pathway.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Marshall University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Huntington, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | July 1, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $221,250 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AI199141-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11348686 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with or at high risk for invasive GAS infections, especially necrotizing fasciitis, who are able to participate in studies assessing host-directed therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-GAS infections or those unable to receive antibiotics may not benefit, as the strategy targets GAS-specific metabolic-immune interactions.
What this research studies
This project examines how the GAS bacterium causes severe tissue destruction and how a metabolic-immune interaction drives inflammation. Researchers will study the PDH-driven production of short-chain fatty acids that shift macrophages toward a damaging inflammatory state. They plan to test a PDH-inhibitor strategy to restore reparative macrophage functions and work with antibiotics to protect tissue in necrotizing fasciitis. The work aims to translate a metabolic-immune target into a therapy that helps preserve tissue and reduce surgeries.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the therapy could lessen tissue loss and improve outcomes for patients with severe GAS infections.
How similar studies have gone: Similar host-directed strategies are in early stages, with preclinical data supporting the SCFA-FFAR2 axis as a potential target.
Where this research is happening
-
Marshall University
Huntington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Xu, Wei — Marshall University
- Study coordinator: Xu, Wei
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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.