Investigating how bacteria change their outer membrane to resist antibiotics
Official title: A novel pathway altering OM permeability
Funded at Texas A&m University · NIH-10838552 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain bacteria can change their outer layer to resist antibiotics, especially when they're under stress, like when they don't have enough nutrients, and it aims to find new ways to make antibiotics work better against tough infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas A&m University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (College Station, United States) |
| Project start | May 8, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $71,874 |
| NIH project number | 5R03AI177677-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10838552 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals suffering from infections caused by antibiotic-resistant gram-negative bacteria.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with infections caused by gram-positive bacteria or those not affected by antibiotic resistance may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding how the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria, which acts as a barrier to antibiotics, can be altered by the bacteria's physiological state. The study aims to identify the pathways that lead to changes in membrane permeability, particularly in response to stress conditions like nutrient limitation. By exploring the relationship between DNA repair mechanisms and membrane permeability, the research seeks to uncover new targets for developing drugs that can enhance antibiotic effectiveness against resistant bacterial strains.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that make antibiotics more effective against resistant bacterial infections.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in targeting bacterial membrane permeability to combat antibiotic resistance, indicating that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Texas A&m University
College Station, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mitchell, Angela Marie — Texas A&m University
- Study coordinator: Mitchell, Angela Marie
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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.