How certain E. coli cause severe diarrhea and gut inflammation
Official title: Mechanisms underlying diarrhea and gut inflammation mediated by Enterotoxigenic and Enteropathogenic E. coli
Funded at Indian Institute of Science · NIH-11136275 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research looks at how toxins from some E. coli make the intestines inflamed and cause long diarrhea, especially in young children.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Indian Institute of Science NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bengaluru, India) |
| Project start | August 18, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $119,996 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI169618-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11136275 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children (especially under age 5) and others who experience prolonged or severe diarrhea caused by enterotoxigenic E. coli would be the main people who could benefit or be candidates for future related trials.
✕Less likely to help
People whose diarrhea is due to non-infectious causes or to viruses unrelated to E. coli are unlikely to benefit from findings focused on E. coli toxins.
What this research studies
If a child has repeated or prolonged diarrhea from toxin-producing E. coli, this work uses specially engineered mice that copy the toxin effects to learn what changes in the gut. Researchers will examine how a gut receptor (GC-C) and elevated cGMP affect Paneth cells, inflammation, and susceptibility to other bacteria. The team will study immune signals, gut cell function, and microbial interactions to pinpoint what makes the intestine more vulnerable. Findings will guide ideas for treatments that protect gut cells and reduce severe, long-lasting diarrhea.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could identify targets or strategies to prevent or treat toxin-driven diarrhea and reduce long-term harm in affected children.
How similar studies have gone: Prior lab and animal work has linked the GC-C pathway to secretory diarrhea and shown some benefit from zinc, but direct therapies for ST toxin–mediated disease remain limited.
Where this research is happening
-
Indian Institute of Science
Bengaluru, India Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Visweswariah, Sandhya — Indian Institute of Science
- Study coordinator: Visweswariah, Sandhya
Related research
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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.