How bacteria turn genes on and off to cause infection or resist antibiotics
Cellular factors maintaining and reversing silencing of bacterial chromatin
This research explores how bacteria control which genes are active, especially those that help them cause disease or become resistant to medicines.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ohio State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbus, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11092884 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
All living cells, including bacteria, have ways to organize their DNA into active and inactive sections. In bacteria like E. coli, special proteins called NAPs can tightly pack DNA, silencing genes that might make the bacteria harmful or help them use new food sources. This project looks at how these silencing proteins work and how other bacterial factors can either maintain this silencing or turn these genes back on. Understanding these processes could help us find new ways to fight bacterial infections.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients who suffer from bacterial infections, especially those caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, could ultimately benefit from future treatments developed from this fundamental understanding.
Not a fit: Patients will not directly participate in this laboratory research, so there is no immediate direct benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new strategies for developing drugs that interfere with bacterial infection or antibiotic resistance mechanisms.
How similar studies have performed: While the silencing of gene promoters is well-understood, the silencing of genes during the RNA production process is a newer area of discovery, with recent data shedding light on key components.
Where this research is happening
Columbus, UNITED STATES
- Ohio State University — Columbus, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Artsimovitch, Irina — Ohio State University
- Study coordinator: Artsimovitch, Irina
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.