How TB bacteria reroute trehalose to survive antibiotics
Interplay of M. tuberculosis trehalose metabolism and its pathogenesis and drug resistance
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · NIH-11307613
This research looks at how tuberculosis bacteria change the way they use a sugar called trehalose to survive antibiotics, aiming to help people with drug-resistant TB.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11307613 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, researchers will study Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the lab and in mouse models to see how the bacteria shift trehalose-driven carbon flow when exposed to antibiotics. They will use metabolomics to measure small molecules and use CRISPR-based tools to turn off bacterial genes involved in trehalose metabolism to test effects on survival and drug tolerance. The team will follow how these metabolic changes influence formation of persister cells that temporarily tolerate treatment and the emergence of permanent drug-resistant mutants. The work aims to reveal bacterial weaknesses that could be targeted to make current antibiotics work better.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants would be people with active tuberculosis, especially those with or at risk for drug-resistant TB, or patients willing to provide clinical samples for research.
Not a fit: People without TB or those seeking immediate changes to their treatment are unlikely to see direct benefits from this basic research in the short term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify new ways to make antibiotics more effective against drug-tolerant and drug-resistant TB.
How similar studies have performed: Previous lab studies, including the team's metabolomics work, have identified a 'trehalose catalytic shift' in TB persisters, but turning these findings into new treatments is still novel.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA — Los Angeles, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: EOH, HYUNGJIN — UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
- Study coordinator: EOH, HYUNGJIN
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.
Conditions: Bacterial Infections