How Group B strep colonizes newborn intestines
Group B Streptococcus surface determinants of neonatal intestinal colonization and infection
Researchers aim to find the bacterial proteins that let Group B strep stick to and invade newborns' intestines so future vaccines or antibody treatments can help prevent infections in infants.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11258946 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project looks at how Group B Streptococcus (GBS) attaches to and survives on newborn intestinal surfaces as a first step toward causing late-onset infections. The team will use genetic tools on GBS strains and laboratory models of the newborn gut to identify surface proteins that mediate binding and invasion. They will study how those bacterial proteins interact with human intestinal tissues or cells and test how blocking those interactions affects colonization. Findings could point to specific targets for vaccines or antibody medicines that stop GBS from persisting in infants' intestines.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Newborns and very young infants, and the parents or caregivers of these infants, are the population most relevant to this research and to any future clinical trials.
Not a fit: Older children and adults without newborn exposure would not be expected to directly benefit from these infant-focused prevention strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to vaccines or antibody treatments that prevent late-onset Group B strep infection in newborns.
How similar studies have performed: Some vaccine and antibody approaches against GBS have shown promise in animal studies and early human work, but there is currently no proven, scalable way to prevent late-onset disease.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hooven, Thomas a — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Hooven, Thomas a
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.