How immune signals cause Staph aureus bone infections and damage
Differential Inflammasome Regulation in the pathogenesis of S. aureus osteomyelitis
The team is comparing how different immune pathways cause bone damage during Staphylococcus aureus infections to help people with osteomyelitis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11158651 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have a Staph aureus bone infection, this work looks at how the immune system’s inflammatory machinery (the inflammasome) affects bone cells and infection outcome. Researchers study immune cells like neutrophils and macrophages, plus bone cells such as osteoclasts and osteoblasts, to see how those interactions promote bone loss or let bacteria hide. The project uses laboratory models and human-relevant samples to map which inflammatory signals drive damage and which might be blocked. The goal is to find targets that could lead to treatments that protect bone and help clear infection alongside antibiotics.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants would be people with current or recurrent Staphylococcus aureus osteomyelitis or those willing to donate blood or surgical bone samples for research.
Not a fit: People with non-infectious bone conditions or infections caused by organisms other than Staphylococcus aureus are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new therapies that reduce bone destruction and help clear stubborn Staph aureus infections when antibiotics alone are insufficient.
How similar studies have performed: Laboratory and animal studies suggest inflammasome modulation can change infection-driven inflammation, but clinical benefit for human bone infections is not yet established.
Where this research is happening
Saint Louis, United States
- Washington University — Saint Louis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Veis, Deborah J — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Veis, Deborah J
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.