How TB bacteria make membrane vesicles that affect infection
Role of mycobacterial dynamin-like proteins in the biogenesis of membrane vesicles, and host-pathogen interactions
['FUNDING_R01'] · RUTGERS BIOMEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES · NIH-11131028
Researchers are looking at how tuberculosis bacteria make tiny membrane vesicles that change how they interact with the immune system, which could help people with TB.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | RUTGERS BIOMEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11131028 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If you have tuberculosis, this project studies tiny membrane-covered packets (extracellular vesicles) that TB bacteria release and use to influence immune cells. The team is focused on bacterial dynamin-like proteins that may be required for making these vesicles, using lab-grown bacteria, infected immune cells, and animal infection models to study effects. They plan to create bacterial mutants with altered vesicle production and measure how that changes infection, immune responses, and delivery of bacterial factors. Learning how vesicles are made and used could reveal new ways to block bacterial messaging and reduce TB's ability to survive in the body.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with active tuberculosis or individuals willing to provide clinical samples at Rutgers-Newark would be the most relevant candidates for any patient-facing parts of this work.
Not a fit: People without TB infection or those with non-mycobacterial lung diseases are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this specific basic-research project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new drug or vaccine targets that reduce TB bacteria's ability to hide from and manipulate the immune system.
How similar studies have performed: Prior lab studies have shown M. tuberculosis releases extracellular vesicles that affect immune cells, but targeting dynamin-like proteins to block vesicle production is a newer, less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
Newark, UNITED STATES
- RUTGERS BIOMEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES — Newark, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: RODRIGUEZ, GLORIA MARCELA — RUTGERS BIOMEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES
- Study coordinator: RODRIGUEZ, GLORIA MARCELA
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.