How nucleotides help the lungs clear bacterial infections
Impact of nucleotide metabolism on bacterial clearance
Seeing whether restoring anti-inflammatory nucleotide signals in airway cells helps the lungs clear dangerous bacteria that cause pneumonia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11143013 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have pneumonia or chronic lung infections, this research looks at how the chemistry inside airway cells affects whether bacteria like Pseudomonas and Staphylococcus stick around. Researchers will study airway cells, infection models, and animal experiments to understand how oxidative damage and nucleotide signaling change bacterial survival and biofilm formation. The team will test ways to boost anti-inflammatory nucleotide pathways to reduce tissue oxidation and help immune cells eliminate persistent, drug-resistant bacteria. Findings will be used to design new therapies aimed at eradicating these lung infections.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with bacterial pneumonia or chronic/recurrent lung infections—especially those caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Staphylococcus aureus or with multidrug-resistant infections—would be the most relevant candidates for future trials or sample donation.
Not a fit: Patients with only viral pneumonia, non-lung conditions, or illnesses unrelated to airway bacterial infection are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to new treatments that help the lungs clear multidrug-resistant bacteria and reduce the severity and recurrence of pneumonia.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research on purine/pyrimidine signaling and inflammation has shown promise for controlling tissue damage, but applying nucleotide-based metabolic control specifically to clear multidrug-resistant lung bacteria is largely preclinical and novel.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Columbia University Health Sciences — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Riquelme Colet, Sebastian Alejandro — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Riquelme Colet, Sebastian Alejandro
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.