How common gut bacteria may stop C. difficile from making spores
Contact-dependent suppression of Clostridioides difficile sporulation by enterococci
This project looks at whether common gut bacteria called enterococci can stop C. difficile from making hardy spores that spread infection, which could help people prone to C. difficile infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Albany Medical College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Albany, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11457572 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's point of view, scientists will study how enterococci and C. difficile interact in the lab to see if close contact prevents C. difficile from forming spores. They will screen many enterococci mutants to find the bacterial genes and surface proteins responsible for this suppression. The team will use co-culture assays and genetic and transcriptional analyses to map how these interactions work. The experiments are lab-based using bacterial cultures and models, aimed at finding targets for treatments that limit C. difficile spread.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who have had C. difficile infections, especially those with recurrent infections or who are at high risk after antibiotics or hospitalization, are the population most likely to benefit from treatments arising from this research.
Not a fit: Patients with unrelated gut conditions or those needing immediate clinical treatment for severe, active C. difficile infection are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this lab-focused project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new therapies or microbiome-based approaches that prevent C. difficile from forming spores and reduce infections and recurrences.
How similar studies have performed: Restoring healthy gut bacteria (for example with fecal microbiota transplant) has helped prevent C. difficile, but the specific contact-dependent suppression mechanism studied here is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Albany, United States
- Albany Medical College — Albany, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mckenney, Peter T — Albany Medical College
- Study coordinator: Mckenney, Peter T
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.