How diabetic wounds let Group B Streptococcus cause infections
Official title: The Diabetic Wound Environment Shapes Group B Streptococcal Pathogenesis
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11461002 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are learning how high blood sugar, immune changes, and other bacteria in diabetic wounds help Group B Streptococcus grow and cause worse infections in people with diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | June 13, 2024 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $249,000 |
| NIH project number | 4R00AI180373-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11461002 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with diabetes who have chronic, slow-healing, or infected foot or skin wounds would be the most relevant patient group for this work.
✕Less likely to help
People without diabetes or those whose wounds are caused by other confirmed pathogens may not directly benefit from these findings.
What this research studies
This project uses mouse models that mimic diabetic wounds to see how Group B Streptococcus (GBS) behaves in a high-sugar, immune-altered environment. Scientists will study how neutrophils (a key infection-fighting white blood cell), high glucose levels, and interactions with other microbes affect GBS survival and inflammation. They will compare gene activity from both the host and bacteria using dual RNA sequencing to find which pathways change during diabetic infection. The goal is to identify targets that could be used to prevent or treat GBS infections in diabetic wounds.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to ways to reduce severe diabetic wound infections and lower the risk of non-healing wounds and amputations.
How similar studies have gone: Previous animal and molecular studies have examined diabetic wound infections and GBS, but applying dual host–pathogen RNA sequencing to the diabetic wound niche is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Keogh, Rebecca — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Keogh, Rebecca
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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.