How bacteria change to become opportunistic infections
Deciphering the processes of adaptation and exaptation driving the evolution of opportunism in bacteria
['FUNDING_R01'] · NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY RALEIGH · NIH-11310129
Researchers are looking at how certain bacteria switch from harmless to harmful so this work could help people at risk of hospital-acquired infections.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY RALEIGH (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (RALEIGH, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11310129 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If you or someone you know gets infections in hospitals, this project looks at how bacteria shift between living harmlessly and causing disease. The team combines computer analyses of bacterial genomes, lab experiments that track bacterial behavior, and animal models that mimic natural host interactions to follow those changes. By studying bacteria in more realistic settings they aim to find the genetic changes and conditions that let bacteria become opportunistic and often drug-resistant.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who have had hospital-acquired bacterial infections or infections with multidrug-resistant opportunistic bacteria would be most relevant for future related studies.
Not a fit: Patients without bacterial infections or those with non-bacterial conditions are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal how opportunistic bacteria become harmful and point to new ways to prevent or treat hospital-acquired, drug-resistant infections.
How similar studies have performed: Comparative genomics and lab evolution experiments have given useful insights before, but combining in-silico, in-vitro, and in-vivo work to mimic host interactions is a newer, less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
RALEIGH, UNITED STATES
- NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY RALEIGH — RALEIGH, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: RAYMANN, KASIE TYLER — NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY RALEIGH
- Study coordinator: RAYMANN, KASIE TYLER
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.
Conditions: Bacterial Infections