How bacteria talk to each other and what that means for infections
Official title: Evolution of bacterial communication systems
Funded at Tufts University Boston · NIH-11578695 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how bacteria communicate and adapt in crowded environments like infections, with the goal of understanding what makes some bacteria more harmful or harder to treat.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tufts University Boston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 12, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $248,925 |
| NIH project number | 7R00GM145768-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11578695 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with bacterial infections, especially those involving multiple species or antibiotic resistance, may benefit from insights this research could yield.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not facing infections or those not affected by bacterial signaling will not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project explores how bacterial signaling systems evolved and function in complex communities seen during infections. It uses chemical and molecular microbiology to test how changes in communication receptors affect how bacteria compete with each other and respond to antibiotics. The work builds on prior findings from a training phase, aiming to connect basic signaling biology to real-world infection outcomes. By understanding these signaling networks, the research could point to new ways to limit virulence and improve treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better strategies to curb bacterial virulence and improve antibiotic effectiveness in infections.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows that altering QS signaling can change competition and virulence, supporting potential benefit for similar strategies.
Where this research is happening
-
Tufts University Boston
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Miranda, Samantha Wellington — Tufts University Boston
- Study coordinator: Miranda, Samantha Wellington
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.