How bacteria respond to copper toxicity in the body
Official title: Elucidating the Orchestrated Bacterial Response to Copper Toxicity
Funded at University of Arizona · NIH-11563273 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study to understand how pathogenic bacteria manage copper stress inside the human host, which could reveal new ways to support infections fighting back.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Arizona NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tucson, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2018 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $179,758 |
| NIH project number | 3R35GM128653-08S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11563273 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to patient participation in this non-human focused project.
✕Less likely to help
No direct patient participation or benefit is expected from this basic science project.
What this research studies
This project looks at how bacteria sense and react to copper and related metals when they invade the body. Researchers will examine the networks that control metal uptake, binding, and export to keep the bacteria alive or cause them to fail. The work will combine molecular ideas about DNA, proteins, and metal ions with methods to observe how bacteria adapt under metal stress. By clarifying these metal-handling processes, the study aims to point toward new strategies to curb infections.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better understanding of metal-based vulnerabilities in bacteria could inform new approaches to prevent or treat infections.
How similar studies have gone: Other studies have begun to map metal homeostasis in bacteria, with growing evidence that metal stress shapes bacterial survival.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Arizona
Tucson, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Johnson, Michael David Leslie — University of Arizona
- Study coordinator: Johnson, Michael David Leslie
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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.