How MRSA signaling helps it resist penicillin-type antibiotics
Serine/threonine kinase signaling in beta-lactam resistance of Staphylococcus aureus
Researchers are working to understand how MRSA bacteria use a specific signaling system to resist penicillin-type antibiotics so future treatments work better for people with MRSA infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Maryland Baltimore NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11160520 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have a MRSA infection, this project looks at bacterial signals that make those germs resistant to penicillin-family drugs. Scientists study specific bacterial proteins (called Stk1 and Stp1 in the eSTK pathway) in laboratory MRSA strains and change those proteins to see how resistance turns on or off. They measure mecA activity and the BlaR1-BlaI pathway and search for other non-classical factors that help MRSA survive beta-lactam antibiotics. The work is done in the lab on bacterial samples to identify targets that might restore antibiotic effectiveness.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This project does not enroll patients, but its results will be most relevant to people with MRSA infections that are resistant to beta-lactam (penicillin-type) antibiotics.
Not a fit: People whose infections are caused by non-staphylococcal bacteria or who need immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to get direct benefit from this laboratory study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new drug targets or strategies that restore the effectiveness of penicillin-type antibiotics against MRSA.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown that targeting bacterial signaling can change antibiotic sensitivity in lab models, but applying this specifically to MRSA eSTK signaling is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- University of Maryland Baltimore — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chatterjee, Som — University of Maryland Baltimore
- Study coordinator: Chatterjee, Som
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.