How tuberculosis bacteria switch genes on and off
Structural and functional studies of the mycobacterial transcription cycle
Scientists are mapping how the tuberculosis bacterium reads and controls its genes so new antibiotics can be developed for people with TB.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rockefeller University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11258498 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From my perspective as someone concerned about TB, the team is looking inside Mycobacterium tuberculosis to see how its RNA polymerase—the machine that reads bacterial genes—starts, pauses, and stops copying genetic messages. They use high-resolution imaging (cryo-electron microscopy) and biochemical experiments to capture these molecular machines in action and to see how known antibiotics like rifampicin bind. The researchers will study related Actinobacteria to learn general rules of transcription and to find new vulnerable sites that future drugs could target. Although this work is done in the lab rather than in patients, it aims to produce structures and mechanisms that drug developers can use to design better treatments, especially against resistant strains.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with active tuberculosis, particularly those with drug-resistant TB, are the patient group most likely to benefit from therapies that could arise from this work.
Not a fit: Patients without TB or those expecting immediate changes to their care should not expect direct or immediate benefit from this laboratory-focused project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify new targets for antibiotics and help create treatments that work against rifampicin-resistant TB.
How similar studies have performed: Previous structural studies have revealed how antibiotics like rifampicin bind RNAP and have helped guide drug design, but applying this approach across the full transcription cycle is a newer direction.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Rockefeller University — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Campbell, Elizabeth a — Rockefeller University
- Study coordinator: Campbell, Elizabeth a
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.