How bacteria neutralize nitric oxide during infection
Nitrosative stress and NO detoxifying reaction mechanisms in microbial nonheme diiron proteins
This project looks at proteins in disease-causing bacteria that neutralize nitric oxide so scientists can find new ways to fight infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oregon Health & Science University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11290379 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
I’m learning that some disease-causing bacteria use special iron-containing proteins to survive the immune system by handling nitric oxide. The team studies a newly found mycobacterial protein that increases when bacteria live inside immune cells and shows chemistry never seen before. They use purified proteins, X-ray structures, and time-resolved spectroscopies (resonance Raman, FTIR, and EPR) to watch the chemical steps the protein uses. Comparing this protein’s behavior to other enzymes helps reveal the exact reactions bacteria use to detoxify reactive nitrogen.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: No patients are being enrolled, but people affected by mycobacterial infections (for example tuberculosis) are the ultimate beneficiaries of this work.
Not a fit: Patients needing immediate clinical care or those with unrelated conditions will not receive direct medical benefit from this laboratory research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal bacterial weak points that drug developers might target to improve treatments for infections.
How similar studies have performed: Related biochemical and spectroscopic studies have successfully revealed enzyme mechanisms and informed drug discovery, though this particular mycobacterial protein shows novel chemistry that is largely untested.
Where this research is happening
Portland, United States
- Oregon Health & Science University — Portland, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Moenne-Loccoz, Pierre — Oregon Health & Science University
- Study coordinator: Moenne-Loccoz, Pierre
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.