How Our Gut Fights Off Germs
Innate Immune Defense Mechanisms in the Intestine
['FUNDING_R01'] · UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER · NIH-10983302
This work explores how our body's natural defenses in the gut recognize and fight off harmful bacteria like Listeria.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (DALLAS, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-10983302 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Our bodies have special ways to detect and fight off germs that invade our cells, especially in the intestine. This project focuses on a key pathway, called GEF-H1, which acts like an alarm system to alert our immune cells, specifically macrophages, when invaders are present. Researchers want to understand exactly how germs trigger this alarm and how our immune system then responds to protect us. By learning more about these fundamental processes, we hope to find new ways to boost our body's ability to fight infections.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational work is not recruiting patients directly but aims to understand immune responses relevant to anyone susceptible to bacterial infections.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate new treatments for infections will not directly benefit from this basic science project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: A deeper understanding of these immune defenses could lead to new strategies for preventing and treating serious bacterial infections.
How similar studies have performed: While the GEF-H1 pathway is known to be important, this work seeks to clarify specific, previously unclear mechanisms of its activation by microbes.
Where this research is happening
DALLAS, UNITED STATES
- UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER — DALLAS, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: REINECKER, HANS-CHRISTIAN — UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER
- Study coordinator: REINECKER, HANS-CHRISTIAN
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.