How ions influence bacterial ribosome function and antibiotic interactions
Official title: Effects of ions on mRNA elements, ribosomes and antibiotic-RNA interactions
Funded at Triad National Security, LLC · NIH-11349617 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how ions affect how bacterial ribosomes read genetic information and interact with antibiotics, with the goal of understanding drug resistance.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Triad National Security, LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Alamos, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | June 15, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $656,648 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM156585-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11349617 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not a patient-facing study; the research does not enroll patients but informs antibiotic science that could benefit patients in the future.
✕Less likely to help
This grant does not involve or recruit patients.
What this research studies
Researchers will combine time-resolved cryo-EM and advanced computer simulations to study how magnesium and other ions influence the steps of protein synthesis in bacteria and how these ions change the way antibiotics bind. The work focuses on the bacterial ribosome and uses high-resolution structures and simulations to uncover why certain antibiotics fail and how ion interactions alter decoding accuracy. By linking ion behavior to antibiotic interactions at the atomic level, the project aims to reveal new details that could guide better drug design. The study is conducted at Los Alamos with a biochemistry and biophysics focus, combining experimental and computational approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could inform the design of antibiotics less prone to resistance by revealing how ions modulate ribosome function and drug binding.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown that time-resolved cryo-EM and simulations can illuminate ribosome dynamics and antibiotic interactions, supporting the potential for meaningful insights here.
Where this research is happening
-
Triad National Security, LLC
Los Alamos, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sanbonmatsu, Karissa Y — Triad National Security, LLC
- Study coordinator: Sanbonmatsu, Karissa Y
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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.