Improving antibiotic effectiveness by changing bacterial DNA structure
Official title: Investigating ploidy modulation as a strategy to improve antibiotic activity
Funded at Princeton University · NIH-11061103 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how changing the number of DNA copies in bacteria might help antibiotics work better, especially against tough bacteria that can survive treatment and cause ongoing infections, with the goal of finding new ways to improve antibiotic treatments for everyone.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Princeton University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Princeton, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | April 1, 2024 |
| Project end | February 28, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $246,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AI182745-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11061103 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients suffering from chronic bacterial infections that are difficult to treat due to antibiotic resistance.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with acute infections that respond well to standard antibiotic treatments may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how altering the number of DNA copies in bacteria can enhance the effectiveness of antibiotics, particularly against antibiotic-tolerant cells known as persisters. These persisters can survive antibiotic treatment and contribute to chronic infections and antibiotic resistance. The study will explore the relationship between bacterial DNA structure and their ability to withstand antibiotics, aiming to find new strategies to improve treatment outcomes. By understanding how to manipulate bacterial ploidy, the research seeks to develop methods that could lead to more effective antibiotic therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved antibiotic treatments that effectively eliminate persistent bacterial infections and reduce the risk of antibiotic resistance.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of manipulating bacterial ploidy is relatively novel, previous studies have shown promising results in enhancing antibiotic effectiveness through genetic modifications.
Where this research is happening
-
Princeton University
Princeton, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Brynildsen, Mark P — Princeton University
- Study coordinator: Brynildsen, Mark P
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
How neuropeptides could influence aging and Alzheimer’s risk
Researchers at Princeton are studying whether changing brain signaling chemicals called neuropeptides can extend healthy aging and reduce Alzheimer’s-related brain changes, with a focus on people at risk for Alzheimer’s disease dementia.
-
Sleep and aging brain resilience in a short-lived vertebrate model
A young-aged-friendly project explores how sleep quality affects brain health during aging, using a tiny, fast-lived fish model to understand Alzheimer’s-related changes.
-
How hepatitis C adapts to other species to help develop vaccines
Researchers are making a mouse-friendly version of hepatitis C so scientists can better test vaccines and understand the virus for people living with or at risk of hepatitis C.
-
Mapping how cells push and pull in living tissues
A science project at Princeton aims to map and control the forces between cells in 3D tissues to better understand cancer, development, and healing, with potential benefits for patients in the future.
-
Understanding how brain signals give rise to thinking using brain-wide recordings
Researchers at Princeton are developing new brain theories and computer tools to understand how complex neural signals relate to thinking and behavior.
-
Cancer metabolism revealed through mass spectrometry and isotope tracing
A scientist team at Princeton will study how cancer cells use nutrients by analyzing metabolites with advanced mass spectrometry and labeled tracers.
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.