Host glutamine metabolism in tuberculosis pathogenesis
Official title: Role of host glutaminolysis in tuberculosis pathogenesis
Funded at Louisiana State Univ A&m Col Baton Rouge · NIH-11473312 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study tests a drug that blocks host glutamine use to help fight tuberculosis by improving immune cells’ ability to kill the bacteria.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Louisiana State Univ A&m Col Baton Rouge NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baton Rouge, United States) |
| Project start | January 2, 2019 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $262,500 |
| NIH project number | 5P20GM130555-08 |
| Project ID | NIH-11473312 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be individuals with active TB or those at high risk of TB progression in future trials, pending safety and efficacy in preclinical models.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose TB is driven by factors not influenced by glutaminolysis or who cannot tolerate GLS1 inhibitors may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
This project focuses on how the body’s own glutamine metabolism in immune cells helps or hinders tuberculosis infection. Researchers are testing a glutaminolysis blocker, JHU083, to see if it boosts macrophage bacteria-killing and reduces lung bacteria in animal models. If successful, this approach could shorten TB treatment by helping the immune system work more effectively. The study looks at changes in immune signaling, bacterial load, and survival in mice with TB. The aim is to translate these findings into strategies that could benefit people with TB in the future.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lead to host-directed therapies that shorten TB treatment and reduce side effects.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical models have shown that inhibiting host glutaminolysis can boost antimicrobial activity and reduce bacterial burden in TB-like settings.
Where this research is happening
-
Louisiana State Univ A&m Col Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Parveen-Nesson, Sadiya — Louisiana State Univ A&m Col Baton Rouge
- Study coordinator: Parveen-Nesson, Sadiya
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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.