How bacteria sense invading viruses and defend themselves
ATP-driven detection of foreign proteins triggers diverse mechanisms of cellular defense and phage-mediated counter defense
Scientists are figuring out how bacteria spot viral proteins and turn on defenses, which could help fight antibiotic-resistant infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Montana State University - Bozeman NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bozeman, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11330420 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will use computational searches of bacterial genomes to find ATP-powered immune systems, then study those systems in the lab with biochemical and structural experiments to see how they recognize viral proteins. They will test how detection turns on different bacterial defense mechanisms and how viruses (phages) evolve ways to counteract those defenses. The work focuses on bacteria that live in and around people to understand how these interactions shape antibiotic resistance and microbial communities relevant to human health. Findings may guide future approaches like phage therapies or new ways to limit the spread of resistance.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections or those willing to donate microbiome or bacterial samples for research would be the most relevant candidates to help related studies.
Not a fit: Patients whose conditions are unrelated to bacterial infections or the microbiome are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this grant's work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new targets or strategies to prevent or treat antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections.
How similar studies have performed: Prior work has revealed other bacterial immune systems like CRISPR and informed phage therapy efforts, but ATP-driven detection systems are less explored and this approach is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Bozeman, United States
- Montana State University - Bozeman — Bozeman, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wiedenheft, Blake a — Montana State University - Bozeman
- Study coordinator: Wiedenheft, Blake a
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.