How cholera bacteria form and break apart sticky biofilms
Cell specific gene expression in the genesis and dispersal of Vibrio cholerae biofilm
Researchers will map which genes individual cholera bacteria use inside biofilms to learn how these communities form and release infectious cells.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11253288 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project looks at individual cholera bacteria grown in the lab to see which genes are turned on when they live in biofilms versus when they swim freely. The team will use a new microfluidic single-cell RNA sequencing method to read gene activity from thousands of bacteria and compare different growth times. They will also use fluorescent imaging to map how different bacterial cell types are arranged in three dimensions and test how signals like those in the human gut cause biofilms to disperse. The goal is to identify the specific bacterial cell states that help biofilms seed infections.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This project does not enroll patients; it is laboratory research on cholera bacteria rather than a patient trial.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate clinical treatments or enrollment in a cholera therapy trial would not benefit directly from this lab-based work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could point to ways to prevent biofilm reservoirs or stop biofilm dispersal, reducing cholera outbreaks.
How similar studies have performed: Single-cell gene methods have recently given useful insights in other microbes, but applying microfluidic single-cell RNA sequencing to V. cholerae biofilms is a relatively new and novel approach.
Where this research is happening
Chapel Hill, United States
- Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill — Chapel Hill, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rosenthal, Adam — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Rosenthal, Adam
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.