How the outer protective layer of Gram-negative bacteria forms and is maintained
Biogenesis and maintenance of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria
Researchers are working to understand how the outer shell of harmful Gram-negative bacteria forms so new antibiotics can be developed for people with drug-resistant infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Princeton University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Princeton, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11176174 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient’s point of view, this project looks at how the outer membrane—the protective coat—of Gram-negative bacteria is built and kept intact using E. coli as a lab model. The team studies the ways lipids, lipopolysaccharides, lipoproteins, and barrel-shaped proteins are assembled and moved to the outer layer. They also examine stress-response systems that help bacteria maintain their envelope and identified bacterial proteins (like BamA) that can be targeted at the cell surface. Using these insights, the lab has already discovered a new class of antibiotics that blocks a key outer-membrane protein.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria, especially those with drug-resistant strains, would be the most relevant future candidates for therapies arising from this work.
Not a fit: People with non-bacterial illnesses or infections caused by Gram-positive organisms are unlikely to benefit directly from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to new antibiotics that better treat drug-resistant Gram-negative infections.
How similar studies have performed: Laboratory and early-discovery studies have shown promise targeting outer-membrane assembly proteins like BamA, but clinical testing of these approaches is still limited.
Where this research is happening
Princeton, UNITED STATES
- Princeton University — Princeton, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Silhavy, Thomas J. — Princeton University
- Study coordinator: Silhavy, Thomas J.
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.