How cholera bacteria control their ability to cause illness
Coordinate Regulation of Virulence in Vibrio Cholerae
Researchers are learning how Vibrio cholerae interacts with other microbes, viruses, and the immune system to help find new ways to prevent or treat cholera.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard Medical School NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11308223 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, this work uses lab and animal experiments to see how cholera bacteria sense danger and switch on their disease-causing tools. Scientists study molecules the bacteria make (like cyclic dinucleotides) and bacterial systems that kill other microbes to see how these events change infection inside the body. The team has used the bacterium to help solve the shape of human immune enzymes and is testing how bacterial products affect phage resistance and host immune responses. The goal is to turn these basic findings into ideas that could lead to new drugs or vaccines down the line.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Although this grant mainly supports lab and animal work, people who have had cholera or live in areas with recurring cholera outbreaks might be candidates for related future clinical or observational studies.
Not a fit: Patients with non-bacterial causes of diarrhea or those not at risk for cholera are unlikely to see direct benefit from this specific grant's activities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could point to new drug targets or vaccine strategies that reduce cholera severity or transmission.
How similar studies have performed: Prior laboratory studies using V. cholerae have identified immune signaling molecules and helped solve important enzyme structures, but translating those findings into approved treatments remains at an early stage.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Harvard Medical School — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mekalanos, John Joseph — Harvard Medical School
- Study coordinator: Mekalanos, John Joseph
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.