How the body and gut bacteria compete for nutrients during Salmonella gut infection
Nutritional immunity during Salmonella infection
This work looks at how my body and gut bacteria battle over metals like iron and zinc during common Salmonella gut infections to find new ways to limit the bacteria.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11145720 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project studies how host proteins and gut microbes change metal availability in the inflamed intestine during non-typhoidal Salmonella infection. Researchers use lab experiments with bacteria, animal models, and molecular tools to track proteins like calprotectin and signals such as IL-22 that control nutrient sequestration. They also study how Salmonella and probiotic E. coli strains compete using metal uptake systems and small antimicrobial molecules called microcins. The goal is to identify mechanisms that could be targeted to reduce Salmonella growth and restore healthy gut microbes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people who have recently had or are at risk for non-typhoidal Salmonella gut infections or who can provide stool or tissue samples for research.
Not a fit: People without gastrointestinal infections or those seeking immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to get direct benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new treatments or probiotic strategies that prevent Salmonella from growing in the gut and reduce intestinal inflammation.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier laboratory and animal studies—including work on IL-22, calprotectin, and probiotic E. coli—have shown these pathways affect Salmonella growth, so this builds on prior findings.
Where this research is happening
La Jolla, United States
- University of California, San Diego — La Jolla, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Raffatellu, Manuela — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Raffatellu, Manuela
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.