How certain bacteria can prevent the growth of C. difficile spores

Contact-dependent suppression of Clostridioides difficile sporulation by enterococci

NIH-funded research State University of Ny,binghamton · NIH-11094039

This study is looking at how good bacteria in our gut, called enterococci, can help stop the harmful bacteria Clostridioides difficile from growing, and it aims to find out which specific parts of the good bacteria do this, with the hope of discovering new ways to treat infections caused by C. difficile.

Quick facts

Grant typeR03 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionState University of Ny,binghamton NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Binghamton, United States)
Project IDNIH-11094039 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates how enterococci, a type of bacteria found in the gut, can inhibit the sporulation of Clostridioides difficile, a harmful bacterium. The researchers aim to identify specific genes in enterococci that contribute to this suppression and understand the interactions between these bacteria at the cellular level. By using advanced laboratory techniques, including genetic screening and co-culture assays, they hope to uncover mechanisms that could lead to new treatments for C. difficile infections. This work is particularly important as C. difficile can cause severe gastrointestinal diseases.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals at risk for C. difficile infections, such as those with a history of antibiotic use or gastrointestinal disorders.

Not a fit: Patients who are not affected by C. difficile infections or do not have risk factors for such infections may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapeutic strategies to prevent or treat C. difficile infections, improving patient outcomes.

How similar studies have performed: While the specific approach of this research is novel, there have been successful studies exploring bacterial interactions that modulate pathogenicity in other contexts.

Where this research is happening

Binghamton, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions bacterial disease treatment
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.