How our own cells fight intracellular bacterial infections without antibiotics
Official title: Mechanisms of effector-mediated cell-autonomous host defense against intracellular bacterial pathogens
Funded at Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences · NIH-11449041 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study to understand how human immune cells inside our bodies can naturally block bacteria like Legionella from growing, with the goal of helping design therapies that boost this internal defense.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (East Lansing, United States) |
| Project start | July 7, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $656,197 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AI190924-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11449041 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This research involves cellular and animal models; results may inform future human studies for individuals with bacterial infections and antibiotic resistance.
✕Less likely to help
No direct patient participation is described in the grant as stated; findings would be translated in future studies.
What this research studies
The project looks at how macrophages and mice handle intracellular bacteria when a proteasome regulator subunit (PA28ab) is missing, to see if enhancing cell-intrinsic immunity could reduce infections. Researchers will explore autophagy-related pathways and how they interact with immunity inside cells, aiming to identify targets for host-directed therapies. The work uses cell and animal models to uncover mechanisms that could lead to new ways to help patients clear infections without relying solely on antibiotics.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could guide new strategies that empower a patient’s own cells to better control intracellular bacteria, potentially reducing antibiotic reliance.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work suggests host-immunity pathways can influence bacterial replication inside cells, supporting potential impact of this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences
East Lansing, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shames, Stephanie Rochelle — Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Shames, Stephanie Rochelle
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.