How a probiotic E. coli protects the gut from Salmonella
Mechanism of colonization resistance
This work looks at how a helpful E. coli probiotic keeps harmful Salmonella out of the gut, with implications for people at risk of intestinal infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California at Davis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Davis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11385998 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are studying the probiotic strain E. coli Nissle 1917 to understand how it blocks Salmonella from taking hold in the gut. They will use animal models and an advanced lab-grown gut habitat to see whether E. coli outcompetes Salmonella by eating simple sugars and by moving into protective gut niches. One aim tests how sugar consumption limits Salmonella growth, and the other tests how bacterial movement (chemotaxis) helps colonization resistance. Together these methods seek to define the metabolic and behavioral traits that make certain microbes keystone defenders of the gut.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People at risk of or recovering from gut infections such as Salmonella, or those interested in probiotic approaches to prevent intestinal infections, would be most relevant to this research.
Not a fit: Patients with conditions unrelated to gut infections or those needing immediate antibiotic or emergency care are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this preclinical research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new probiotic or microbiome-based ways to prevent or reduce intestinal infections.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal studies and some human probiotic trials suggest E. coli Nissle can reduce pathogen colonization, but the exact sugar-consumption and chemotaxis mechanisms remain largely unproven.
Where this research is happening
Davis, United States
- University of California at Davis — Davis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Baumler, Andreas J — University of California at Davis
- Study coordinator: Baumler, Andreas J
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 below.