How the outer coat of tuberculosis bacteria affects infection and drug resistance
Metabolic determinants of Mtb virulence, vulnerability and variation
Researchers are looking at how components of the TB bacterium's outer layer affect how it causes disease and how well antibiotics can reach it, to help people with TB.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11373874 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have tuberculosis, scientists on this project will study bacteria taken from patient samples to see what chemicals and fats make up the bacterium's outer coat. They will use mass spectrometry and synthetic chemistry to identify new molecules, then use genome-scale CRISPR interference and other genetic tools to find the genes that make them. The team will compare many clinical TB isolates to map how these envelope features vary between patients and strains. This lab-based work aims to link bacterial features to how harmful the bugs are and how well drugs can penetrate them.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with active tuberculosis who can provide sputum or other clinical samples would be the ideal candidates to contribute to this work.
Not a fit: People without active TB or those with only latent infection are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to better diagnostics and new drugs or drug strategies that overcome the TB bacterium's protective outer layer.
How similar studies have performed: Related metabolomics and genetic approaches have previously identified TB drug targets, but this comprehensive, multi-isolate focus on the cell envelope is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Brigham and Women's Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Moody, David Branch — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Moody, David Branch
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.