How E. coli and Pseudomonas build their outer protective layers
Envelope biogenesis in Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa
['FUNDING_R01'] · HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL · NIH-11413347
Researchers are looking at how the outer protective layers of E. coli and Pseudomonas form to find new ways to treat antibiotic-resistant infections.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (BOSTON, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11413347 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
From my point of view, the team grows and manipulates bacterial strains in the lab to watch how their inner and outer membranes and cell wall are assembled. They use genetics, biochemistry, and microscopy to identify the proteins and steps that build the protective outer layer. By finding weak links in that assembly process, researchers hope to point to targets that new antibiotics or adjuvant drugs could attack. The work focuses on Gram-negative bacteria, which are often harder to treat because their outer layer blocks many drugs.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who have or are at risk for infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa or other drug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria would be the eventual beneficiaries and potential candidates for follow-up clinical testing.
Not a fit: Patients with viral infections or non–Gram-negative bacterial illnesses are unlikely to benefit directly from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new drug targets and lead to treatments that better kill or sensitize antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative infections.
How similar studies have performed: Previous basic research on bacterial envelopes helped produce antibiotics that target cell walls, but turning detailed envelope-assembly knowledge into new drugs remains a difficult and ongoing effort.
Where this research is happening
BOSTON, UNITED STATES
- HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL — BOSTON, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: BERNHARDT, THOMAS G — HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL
- Study coordinator: BERNHARDT, THOMAS G
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.