How tuberculosis bacteria survive antibiotics and vaccines
Molecular Genetic Analysis of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis
['FUNDING_R37'] · ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE · NIH-11174308
This research looks at how TB bacteria enter a survival state that lets them resist antibiotics, aiming to help people with active or drug-resistant TB get better treatments.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R37'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (BRONX, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11174308 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers use lab-grown tuberculosis bacteria and animal infection models along with genetic and metabolic tests to find why a small fraction of bacteria called 'persisters' survive strong drugs like isoniazid and amikacin. They compare the surviving cells' gene activity and chromosome structure to killed bacteria and study how the bacteria interact with the immune system. The team isolates persister cells after drug treatment to pinpoint the pathways that allow survival. Results are intended to reveal targets for drugs or strategies to make existing treatments more effective.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with active pulmonary tuberculosis, especially those not responding to standard therapy or with drug-resistant TB, would be most relevant to this research.
Not a fit: People without TB or those with well-controlled latent TB are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this laboratory-focused work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new therapies or approaches that more reliably clear TB infection and shorten treatment time.
How similar studies have performed: Laboratory studies have identified persister mechanisms in other bacteria, but translating those findings into effective new TB treatments is still largely unproven.
Where this research is happening
BRONX, UNITED STATES
- ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE — BRONX, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: JACOBS, WILLIAM ROBERT — ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
- Study coordinator: JACOBS, WILLIAM ROBERT
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.