How different C. difficile types affect infection and toxin production
Defining the role of phenotypic heterogeneity in Clostridioides difficile fitness
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · NIH-11233304
This research looks at how different forms of the C. difficile bacterium make toxins and survive in the gut to help people who get C. difficile infections.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (CHAPEL HILL, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11233304 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers will study how C. difficile switches between forms that have flagella and make toxins and forms that do not, using lab-grown bacteria and mouse infection models. They will examine the genetic 'flg switch' and the signaling molecule c-di-GMP to see how these controls change bacterial behavior. Experiments will measure toxin levels, bacterial motility, and gut inflammation during infection. The team aims to link these bacterial changes to how severe infections become.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with current or recurrent C. difficile infection, or those willing to donate stool or clinical samples, would be the most relevant participants or future trial candidates.
Not a fit: People without C. difficile infection or with unrelated medical conditions are unlikely to directly benefit from this basic laboratory and animal-focused research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal targets to prevent toxin production or reduce severe C. difficile disease.
How similar studies have performed: Previous laboratory and mouse studies have linked flagella and toxin production to C. difficile virulence, but the role of stochastic phase variation via the flg switch in infection outcomes is still being defined.
Where this research is happening
CHAPEL HILL, UNITED STATES
- UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL — CHAPEL HILL, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: TAMAYO, RITA — UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL
- Study coordinator: TAMAYO, RITA
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.