How Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria communicate to form biofilms and cause infections
Official title: Characterization of the mechanisms underpinning quorum sensing progression in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Funded at Wadsworth Center · NIH-11266218 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria use chemical signals to coordinate biofilm formation and infection risk for people with chronic or hospital-acquired infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wadsworth Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Menands, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2022 |
| Project end | January 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $283,438 |
| NIH project number | 5R01GM144361-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11266218 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would include people with recurrent or chronic Pseudomonas infections—such as those with cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, chronic wounds, or ventilator-associated infections—who might provide bacterial samples or be eligible for future trials.
✕Less likely to help
People without Pseudomonas infections or whose infections are caused by other bacteria are unlikely to directly benefit from this work in the near term.
What this research studies
Researchers will study the chemical signals (autoinducers) P. aeruginosa makes and how bacterial receptors detect and respond to those signals. They will use lab-grown bacterial cultures, molecular tools, and mixed-community setups to see which receptor–signal interactions trigger group behaviors like biofilm production. The team will also test how signals from other, non-related bacteria can activate P. aeruginosa communication pathways. Findings will aim to reveal specific steps in the signalling cascade that could be blocked to prevent harmful biofilms.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to new ways to block bacterial communication and reduce biofilm-related infections, potentially improving antibiotic effectiveness.
How similar studies have gone: Similar laboratory and animal studies have shown that disrupting quorum sensing can reduce bacterial virulence, but this approach has not yet produced widely adopted human treatments.
Where this research is happening
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Wadsworth Center
Menands, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Paczkowski, Jon E — Wadsworth Center
- Study coordinator: Paczkowski, Jon E
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.